How did the rumours of Kayans practising cannibalism spread?

Culture

by Patricia Hului - July 17, 2019July 16, 2019

One of the biggest misconceptions of Borneo in the 19th century was that it was a place where cannibalism was common practice. Plenty of tribes in Borneo were depicted as cannibals in European writing,

The Sarawak Museum curator who became a cockroach specialist

Culture

by Patricia Hului - July 11, 2019July 11, 2019

Back in the early days of Sarawak Museum, many of its curators became prominent zoologists, anthropologists and archaeologists. Being posted here in Sarawak when it was almost unknown to the Western world allowed these

How did the headhunting practice start in Borneo?

Culture

by Patricia Hului - July 10, 2019July 10, 2019

Headhunting is the act of taking and preserving a person’s head after killing that person. Generally, scholars agree that headhunting practice’s primary function was for ritualistic and ceremonial purposes. Some even theorized that the

A headhunting story told through ngajat in 1871

Culture

by Patricia Hului - June 10, 2019June 10, 2019

The ngajat is a traditional Iban dance in Borneo. It is traditionally performed as a welcoming dance, before and after a war or headhunting trip and to celebrate a bountiful harvest. Just like the

Looking back at Simanggang peace making ceremony in 1920

Culture

by Patricia Hului - June 7, 2019June 7, 2019

After decades of tribal wars between the Ibans in Ulu Ai and the Skrang, Layar and Lemanak, they finally made peace in 1920. To mark the peaceful agreement between these parties, a peace making