Bidayuh Culture Value
Bidayuh
The term “Bidayuh” is referred to the Land Dayaks community in Sarawak. The Bidayuh consists of many groups and sub-groups. There are four main groups which is Bukar-Sadung of Serian District, Biatah of Siburan District, Bau-Jagoi of Bau District and Salako-Lara of Lundu District. Each area speaks its own dialect but most people can be distinguished by locals down to village level through smaller differences in vocabulary and intonation. The Bidayuhs speak a number of different but related dialects. The dialects are not mutually intelligible and English or Malay are often used as common languages. Bidayuh are the second largest Dayak ethnic group in Sarawak after the Iban. Bidayuhs are well known for their hospitality and are reputed to be the best makers of “tuak” or rice wine. They also do the “Arak Tonok” which is some kind of moonshine.
Religion and Beliefs
Bidayuhs are traditionally animist and vestiges of these beliefs still remain. The great majority of Bidayuh are now Christians, majority of them being Roman Catholic. Most Bidayuh villages have either a Roman Catholic or Anglican church which is more than one or the village would tend to split. The majority of modern day Bidayuhs has adopted the Christian faith while some of them still practice traditional religion.
Musical Heritage
The name of the musical instrument is called “Agung” in Bidayuh language or “Gong” in Malay language. The Bidayuh have a musical heritage consisting of various types of agung ensembles. Ensembles composed of large hanging suspended or held bossed or knobbed gongs which act as drone without any accompanying melodic instrument.
Roles of Bidayuh Traditional Dances
The Bidayuh traditional dances were performed for a number of reasons like rituals, entertainment and test of skills as a form of respect to visitors and the like. Virtually, the significant roles played by these dances in the context of Bidayuh culture are enormous. The performances of these dances require strong physical and mental abilities. By participating in the dance activities, the participants will gain physical and mental strength needed for a healthy body and mind and to keep themselves busy. In this way, it will prevent them from engaging in other unhealthy activities such as drugs taking, glue sniffing, loafing and other social ills. Youths could also learn to interact with each other and acquire more interpersonal communication skills in order to build their self-esteem and become more positive in their outlook.
Society and Lifestyle
The Bidayuh create their own society and life-world through their practices, social interaction, perceptions, and ideas. It is based on an understanding of society as a constructed reality, as a dialectical. The Bidayuh have strong feelings towards their village. Every household is an economically independent unit which is most forms of organizing principles is found. The Bidayuh has to be understood in relation to the house and household. The members of the household and the local village are more important in daily life than relatives from other villages.
Rice reveals meaningful relations in Bidayuh society.
As a norm, rice is eaten within the household to which people belong. However, on special occasions like funerals and weddings, the whole villagers will eat rice together. In their way of thinking about and acting towards rice, Bidayuh create and communicate morality, social norms and ideas about their interactions. The Bidayuh say that rice has a soul (pedi agi simangi), which has to be respected in the same way as people have to be respected. In many ways, Bidayuh create analogies between rice and human beings.
Bidayuh maintain the continuity of their society through their daily practices and continuing conceptions of their world based on their cultural tradition as rice farmers. Hari Gawai Dayak is a ceremony in which the rice harvest is celebrated, is still one of the most important events in which the Bidayuh maintain the continuity of their society.
Bidayuh Traditional Costume
The early attires of the Bidayuh were made from materials obtained from the jungle. Before the advent of Malay and Chinese traders, the loin-cloth of Bidayuh men was made from the inner bark of a tree, Artocarpus Elasticus which is the Bidayuh called boyuh. The loincloth was called “tahup temran”. The skirt of Bidayuh women too was made from similar material. It was called “jomuh kenwa”. In addition to the “jomuh kenwa”, they also wore two coils of fine rattans around the waist which is called “rimba bijuri” and the other one is “rimba bombuo”. “Rimba bijuri” is red while “rimba bumbuo” is black. The women also wore bangles called “gorang” “girogot”, “sirotoh” or “jaka”.
