Gawai diatu enggau kelia

Peremisi Hari Gawai Dayak diungkupka ngagai bala asal Dayak di menua Sarawak; baka bansa Iban, Bidayuh, enggau mayuh sub-ethnics ari Orang Ulu – Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Murut, enggau mayuh agi ti enda ulih ditiuka ba ditu. Sejarah Hari Gawai Dayak ulih dipansik pulai ngagai taun 1957 kelia. Pengerami Hari Gawai Dayak dipejadika (gazetted) nyadi sebengkah ari Hari besai ba menua Sarawak kena 25 September, 1964. Beduduk ari nya, Hari Gawai Dayak ti keterubah diintu kena 1 Jun, 1965. Pengudah ari nya, iya lalu diintu tiap taun sampaika hari tu.

Reti leka jaku Gawai sama enggau pengerami. Nya meh kabuah enti orang bisi rami disebut kitai begawai – Gawai lelabi (orang melah pinang), Gawai Antu (Ngeregang baka ke diatu) Etc. Maya ngintu Hari Gawai mayuh bendar pengawa diaduka beserimbai enggau pengerami nya. Sigi batang pengawa iya nya meri besai terima kasih ngagai Tuhan tauka Petara laban udah bulih asil ari kereja bumai betaun.

Simpulka jaku pandak, pengerami nya tadi dikena meri terima kasih ngagai semengat padi. Pia mega, pengerami tu dikena minta awakka dalam taun baru ti deka datai sama bulih padi sama pemayuh tauka lebih agi ari taun ti udah. Semua perengka dikena bumai nempalai nyengkaum batu panggul sereta enggau keresa kena kereja berat lalu disengkilung ngena pua kumbu dalam pandung ranyai. Tuju pengawa nya awakka semua perengka ti dikena bekereja nya tadi tau enda mai pulaika penusah tauka bebadi. Chara ngintu nya tadi nitihka pengarap. Sida ti udah megai pengarap Kristian ngintu ngena chara sembiang. Sida ti agi pengarap adat asal ngintu ngena chara miring.

Maya Hari Gawai, mayuh mega pengawa bukai diaduka orang. Bisi mega orang sabung jadi nyerumba Hari Gawai. Kelimpah ari nya, mayuh mega main enggau adat asal dibantaika kena ngerami malam baka bebiau, betabuh, bepantun, ngajat, sereta main gagai enggau uti ti bukai. Pengerami belabuh kena lemai hari 31 Mei alai semua raban diri sebilik sama makai begempuru (family union).

Ba sekeda menua, pengawa tu dikumbai orang ‘besapi tuai.’ Raban ti pengabis biak dalam ruang bilik berengkah nyapi raban ti pengabis tuai lalu beturut datai ba iya ti pengabis biak nya empu. Tuju pengawa tu awakka tau gayu-guru baka iya ti tuai dalam ruang bilik nya. Tengah malam nya mega bisi ngirup ai pengayu. Udah nya ditangkanka mayuh main enggau adat asal kena ngerami malam datai ka hari tawas.

Chara ngintu Hari Gawai engka bisi lain mimit nitihka ai enggau bagi menua sebengkah enggau sebengkah. Ba alai genturung orang mayuh agi diau, bisi mega orang ngaduka pekit kumang enggau keling. Maya Hari Gawai mega orang sigi nerima penatai temuai ari pupu raban bansa ti datai ngabang. Mayuh bansa pemakai asal enggau iya ti baru (modern) dibantaika temuai. Tuak tauka ai pengayu enda tau tinggal laban kena ngamin ke adat, sida ke enda ngirup enggai enda meh nyulik mimit. Kelimpah ari nya, pengawa ke nembiak baka pekit ngajat, pekit ngasuh orang ketawa enggau pengawa ke becabut ke tiket bertuah pan selalu seiring enggau pengerami Gawai.

Bepun ari pengawa ke ngambi, ngelalu tauka niki ke pengabang, Pengawa Nebang Ranyai/Bungai selalu ia nyadi penutup pengerami Hari Gawai keterubah (1 Jun) lalu ditutup ninting taun ngena pengawa Ngiling Bidai, nanda ka tempoh begawai udah nyau, lalu berpun ari nya, pengawa ke nugal sereta betambak tau berengkah diperunding ke baru.

Mayuh utai udah berubah, pia mega pengawa Gawai diatu enggau kelia. Ngambi ke banding, nebang Ranyai tau ka Bungai enti kelia enda tau sebarang, orang ke peturun raja berani, orang be udahbisi dengah tauka sida ke kering agi bulubaru tau ngereja pengawa tu. Tang diatu, barang orang tau ngetas buah Ranyai/Bungai, ya ke nebang diatu nya orang bisi, orang ke besai pangkat, ngambi ke banding sida ke megai orang, bala orang kereja perintah ke napi pengawa besai enggau bala sida YB. Kebuah pia, dini alai kitai ngiga orang ke udah bedengah kemaia ari tu? Kebuah bukai, ari pengawa ngetas/nebang Ranyai tauka Bungai tu salah sigi cara rumah panjai ngumpul duit (Fund) laban setiap siko ke ngetas buah Ranyai, sida diminta ngajat lalu udah ke ngetas sida lalu meri pemeri.

Kemaia hari tu mayuh bala anembiak udah bejalai sebelah nengeri ketegal kereja kena ngidupka ruang bilik diri empu. Ketegal kereja ti jauh di menua urang, sekeda ari bala kitai enda ulih mulaika diri enti maya Hari Gawai Dayak. Belanja deka mulaika diri ke menua asal tau mai ungkus beratus. Enti mayuh bala anak, belanja mulaika diri sebilik tentu tau mai ungkus beribu. Mayuh mega orang udah pindah diau mendam ba nengeri ketegal ngiga peluang dikena ngidupka diri ti lebih manah agi.

Dalam kandang 30 taun ti udah lalu, migration ari menua pesisir ngagai nengeri pan nyau makin nambah. Enti kitai mandingka enggau sida bansa Cina, tau dikira nyau deka abis menua ba dunya tu alai bala sida iya migrate ngiga peluang pengidup baru ba menua bukai. Nya alai ba mayuh menua, kitai bisi meda endur ti disebut orang China Town. Ba nengeri Johor mayuh bendar bala ari Sarawak udah bekereja sereta diau mendam ba genturung Bandaraya Johor Bahru dalam 30 taun ti udah lalu. Beduduk ari nya engka nadai salah enti perintah setuju meri nama endur nya dikumbai Sarawak Town tauka Iban Town. Nitihka banci ari perintah, enda kurang ari 40,000 (need to be verified) bala Iban bisi ditemu bekereja tauka diau mendam ba endur nya. Sekeda ari sida iya bekereja di Singapore tang berundang ari Johor Bahru tiap hari.

Chara ngintu Hari Gawai Dayak ba nengeri diatu pan nyau udah bisi jauh lain mimit ari ba rumah panjai. Kabuah pia laban pengidup diau di nengeri udah kena pangka gelumbang dunya nadai sempadan (globalization). Beduduk ari nya, adat asal mayuh pupu bansa nyau udah bechampur (assimilation). Ulih tauka enda adat asal lama baka pantun, ajat, timang, kuntau, sereta mayuh ti bukai dipeturunka datai ba tubuh sida anembiak rebak baru ila? Pekara tu ti balat bendar mai pengirau ati ba sida ti nyadi tuai raban bansa diatu.

Kati ku gaya Hari Gawai diintu anembiak rebak baru ila dalam timpuh 20-50 taun ari diatu – kati agi bisi sama ba senentang chara sida iya ngintu enggau beratika reti leka jaku Gawai ketegal balat bai ubah arus pemansang? Aram mih kitai sama ninjau pekara tu beserimbai enggau musin Gawai tu.

Selamat Hari Gawai Dayak 2010 – Arapka semua kitai gayu-guru, gerai-nyamai, chelap-lindap, lalu mujur dalam semua pengawa.

Biau Benak Sri Aman

Enti pasar Kuching enda ibuh dibanding,
laban chukup terang pandang jelas lampu kuning,
Enti sema hari lemai padam nyang panas manding,
dia kitai sama rindu sereta ransing,
mai diri sebilik ngerindang ati,
ngagai tebing ai Kuching,
ngiga penyamai pun pengelantang.

Enti menua miri enda ibuh ditusi,
endang tampak terbilang lanji-lanji,
alai temuai datai serata nengeri,
ninting bulan lebuh peremisi,
meda pengerami pengerinchah menua.

Menua Sri Aman sigi melan-melan,
alai benak mangka tiap ari ninting bulan,
keba tiap taun datai bulan chukup uan,
diatur Pesta Benak alun lelengai,
kena nyambut temuai datai ari rintis ai ngelan,
betabi jari bejabat tangan,
nanda ke basa kitai Iban,
nyambut bala temuai datai.

Lebuh maya pengawa bakanya,
lalu tepantai main Iban,
pekit keling pekit kumang,
bemain ka engkerunung betebah ka tawak,
bebukat ke silat penchak kuntau
pekit ngajat pekit bebiau asal Iban
kena merantingka suling dabung geman
kena ngetanka adat Iban
ngambi enda puntan lalu lelang.

Dikarang: Allen Charlie

Agi idup agi ngelaban

“Urang semina nemu aku udah mujur ngaga mintol lampu. Tang urang enda nemu udah 20000 kali aku puntan begiga ke chara bakani ka ngasuh mintul nya nyala.” Thomas Edison – urang keterubah ngaga mintol lampu.

“Aku ukai genius. Tang aku puh ngereja pengawa aku. Aku enda nemu berenti nguji. Nya asil ke dipeda kita diatu.” Albert Enstein. urang ke ngaga teori relativiti.

Dua iku urang ke pandai nya, enda mujur enggau mudah. Seduai enda badu-badu nguji sampai mujur.

Kitai bangsa Iban baka nya mega. Kitai digaga Petara enggau tubuh murus enggau untak ke sama pemerat enggau bansa bukai.

Lebuh enda mujur kitai ukai puntan, tang puntan nya empu siti singkang pejalai kitai nuju pemujur. Anang badu nguji. Tersungkur kitai angkat baru. Anang takut salah. Ari salah udah ngajar kitai utai ke betul.

Agi idup agi ngelaban.. jaku tu anang ke semina disebut ke aja. Kitai iban mesti bepegai ba prinsip idup tu, nya baru kitai ulih maju.

IBAN HISTORY IN BRIEF

The Ibans are a branch of the Dayak peoples of Borneo.In Malaysia,most Ibans are located in Sarawak,a small portion in Sabah and some in west Malaysia. They were formerly known during the colonial period by the British as Sea Dayaks. Ibans were renowned for practising headhunting and tribal/territorial expansion. A long time ago, being a very strong and successful warring tribe, the Ibans were a very feared tribe in Borneo. They speak the Iban language.

Today, the days of headhunting and piracy are long gone and in has come the modern era of globalization and technology for the Ibans. The Iban population is concentrated in Sarawak, Brunei, and in the West Kalimantan region of Indonesia. They live in longhouses called rumah panjai. Most of the Iban longhouses are equipped with modern facilities such as electricity and water supply and other facilities such as (tar sealed) roads, telephone lines and the internet. Younger Ibans are mostly found in urban areas and visit their hometowns during the holidays. The Ibans today are becoming increasingly urbanised while (surprisingly) retaining most of their traditional heritage and culture.

The origin of the name Iban is a mystery, although many theories exist. During the British colonial era, the Ibans were called Sea Dayaks. Some believe that the word Iban was an ancient original Iban word for people or man. The modern-day Iban word for people or man is mensia, a slightly modified Malay loan word of the same meaning (manusia).

The Ibans were the original inhabitants of Borneo Island. Like the other Dayak tribes, they were originally farmers, hunters, and gatherers. Not much is known about Iban people before the arrival of the Western expeditions to Asia. Nothing was ever recorded by any voyagers about them.

The Ibans were unfortunately branded for being pioneers of headhunting. Headhunting among the Ibans is believed to have started when the lands occupied by the Ibans became over-populated. In those days, before the arrival of western civilization, intruding on lands belonging to other tribes resulted in death. Confrontation was the only way of survival.

In those days, the way of war was the only way that any Dayak tribe could achieve prosperity and fortune. Dayak warfare was brutal and bloody, to the point of ethnic cleansing. Many extinct tribes, such as the Seru and Bliun, are believed to have been assimilated or wiped out by the Ibans. Tribes like the Bukitan, who were the original inhabitants of Saribas, are believed to have been assimilated or forced northwards as far as Bintulu by the Ibans. The Ukits were also believed to have been nearly wiped out by the Ibans.

The Ibans started moving to areas in what is today’s Sarawak around the 15th century. After an initial phase of colonising and settling the river valleys, displacing or absorbing the local tribes, a phase of internecine warfare began. Local leaders were forced to resist the tax collectors of the sultans of Brunei. At the same time, Malay influence was felt, and Iban leaders began to be known by Malay titles such as Datu (Datuk), Nakhoda and Orang Kaya.

In later years, the Iban encountered the Bajau and Illanun, coming in galleys from the Philippines. These were seafaring tribes who came plundering throughout Borneo. However, the Ibans feared no tribe, and fought the Bajaus and Illanuns. One famous Iban legendary figure known as Lebor Menoa from Entanak, near modern-day Betong, fought and successfully defeated the Bajaus and Illanuns. It is likely that the Ibans learned seafaring skills from the Bajau and the Illanun, using these skills to plunder other tribes living in coastal areas, such as the Melanaus and the Selakos. This is evident with the existence of the seldom-used Iban boat with sail, called the bandung. This may also be one of the reasons James Brooke, who arrived in Sarawak around 1838, called the Ibans Sea Dayaks. For more than a century, the Ibans were known as Sea Dayaks to Westerners.

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.

For the majority of Ibans who are Christians, some Chrisitian festivals such as Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, and other Christian festivals are also celebrated. Most Ibans are devout Christians and follow the Christian faith strictly.

Despite the difference in faiths, Ibans of different faiths do help each other during Gawais and Christmas. Differences in faith is never a problem in the Iban community. The Ibans believe in helping and having fun together. This is ironic for a tribe who once waged war with others due to differences.

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).

The Iban as well as the Kayan also play an instrument resembling the flute called ‘Sape’. The Sape is the official musical instrument for the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is played similarly to the way rock guitarists play guitar solos, albeit a little slower, but not as slow as blues. One example of Iban traditional music is the taboh.

The Ibans perform a unique dance called the ngajat. It serves many purposes depending on the occasion. During Gawais, it is used to entertain the people who in the olden days enjoy graceful ngajats as a form of entertainment. Iban men and women have different styles of ngajat. The ngajat involves a lot of precise body-turning movements. The ngajat for men is more aggressive and depicts a man going to war, or a bird flying (as a respect to the Iban god of war, Singalang Burong). The women’s form of ngajat consists of soft, graceful movements with very precise body turns. Each ngajat is accompanied by the taboh or the body.

Branches Of Iban Peoples

Although Ibans generally speak a dialect which is mutually intelligible, they can be divided into different branches which are named after the geographical areas where they reside.

Majority of Ibans who live around the Lundu and Samarahan region are called Sebuyaus.
Ibans who settled in areas in Serian district (places like Kampung Lebor, Kampung Tanah Mawang & others) are called Remuns. They may be the earliest Iban group to migrate to Sarawak.
Ibans who originated from Sri Aman area are called Balaus.
Ibans who come from Betong, Saratok & parts of Sarikei are called Saribas.
The Lubok Antu Ibans are classed by anthropologist as Ulu Ai Ibans.
Ibans from Undup are called Undup Ibans. Their dialect is somewhat a cross between the Ulu Ai dialect & the Balau dialect.
Ibans living in areas from Sarikei to Miri are called Rajang Ibans. They are the majority group of the Iban people. They can be found along the Rajang River, Sibu, Kapit, Belaga, Kanowit, Song, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri. Their dialect is somewhat similar to the Ulu Ai dialect.

In Kalimantan (Indonesian part of Borneo), Iban people are even more diverse. The Kantu, Air Tabun, Semberuang, Sebaru’ , Bugau, Mualang & along with many other groups are classed as “Ibanic people” by anthropologist. They can be related to the Iban either by the dialect they speak or their custom, ritual & their way of life.