Orang Iban

Religion, Culture and Festival

The Ibans were traditionally animist, although the majority are now
Christian, some of them Muslim and many continue to observe both
Christian and traditional ceremonies, particularly during marriages or
festivals.

Significant festivals include the rice harvesting festival Gawai Dayak, the
main festival for the Ibans.Other festivals include the bird festival Gawai
Burong and the spirit festival Gawai Antu. The Gawai Dayak festival is
celebrated every year on the 1st of June, at the end of the harvest season, to
worship the Lord Sempulang Gana. On this day, the Ibans get together to
celebrate, often visiting each other. The Iban traditional dance, the ngajat, is
performed accompanied by the taboh and gendang, the Ibans’ traditional

music. Pua Kumbu, the Iban traditional cloth, is used to decorate houses.
Tuak, which is originally made of rice, is a wine used to serve guests.
Nowadays, there are various kinds of tuak, made with rice alternatives such
as sugar cane, ginger and corn.

The Gawai Burong (the bird festival) is held in honour of the War God,
Singalang Burong. The name Singalang Burong literally means “Singalang
the Bird”. This festival is initiated by a notable individual from time to time
and hosted by individual longhouses. The Gawai Burong originally
honoured warriors, but during more peaceful times evolved into a healing
ceremony. The recitation of pantun (traditional chants by poets) is a
particularly important aspect of the festival.


Musical & Dancing Heritage

Iban music is percussion-oriented. The Iban have a musical heritage consisting of various types of agung ensembles – percussion ensembles composed of large hanging, suspended or held, bossed/knobbed gongs which act as drones without any accompanying melodic instrument. The typical Iban agung ensemble will include a set of engkerumungs (small agungs arranged together side by side and played like a xylophone), a tawak (the so-called ‘bass’), a bendai (which acts as a snare) and also a set of ketebung (a single sided drum/percussion).