Kenyah people

Kenyah people
Dayak Kenyah

A young Kenyah family in East Kalimantan, pre-1944.
Total population
69,256 (year 2000 - Malaysia and Indonesia)[1][2]
Regions with significant populations
Borneo:
Indonesia (East Kalimantan)	44,000 (2000)[3]
Malaysia (Sarawak)	25,000 (2000)[3]
Languages
Kenyah languages (Mainstream Kenyah language), Indonesian language, Malaysian language (Sarawak Malay)
Religion
Christianity (predominantly), Bungan (Folk religion),[4]Islam
Related ethnic groups
Bahau people, Kayan people, Penan people

The Kenyah people are an indigenous, Austronesian-speaking people of Borneo, living in the remote Baram (Lio Matoh, Long Selaan, Long Moh, Long Anap, Long Mekaba, Long Jeeh, Long Belaong, Long San, Long Silat, Long Tungan, etc.), Data Kakus, Data Surau, Senap River, Long Dungan, Long Busang, Long Beyak, Bintulu, Miri, Asap River resettlement for Bakun Dam, Long Bulan, Long Jawe and Belaga regions in Sarawak, Malaysia and the remote Apau Kayan, Bahau (Bau), Benua Lama, Benua Baru and Mahakam regions in East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Kenyah people are divided into various tribes including the Uma Bakah, Lepo Anan, Lepo Tau, Lepu Jalan, Lepo' Tepu, Uma Kelap, Badeng ,Jamok, Lepo Agak, Bakung, Lebu Kulit, Uma Alim, Uma Timai, Uma Lasan, Lepo Ma-ut, Sambop, Lepo Ke', Lepo Ngao, Ngurek, Kiput, Long Ulai, Long Tikan, Long Sabatu, Lepo Ga, Lepo Dikan, and Lepo Pua

Contents

• 
  1 Culture and economy
  


• 
  2 Religion
  


• 
  3 Population
  


• 
  4 Sub-ethnic groups
  


• 
  5 Origins
  


• 
  6 Languages
  


• 
  7 Folk songs
  


• 
  8 Notable people
  


• 
  9 References
  


• 
  10 Further reading
  


• 
  11 External links
  

Culture and economy

Kenyah dance.

The Kenyah people, traditionally being swidden agriculturalists^[5] and living in longhouses (uma dado'),^[6] is an umbrella term for over 40 sub-groups that mostly share common migration histories, customs and related dialects. Kenyah people lived in longhouses in a small communities. Each longhouse consists of families who choose their own leader (headman). When they have any event or celebration such as harvest festival they will normally use the longhouse verandah (oseh bi'o) to gather and deliver speeches to guide their youngsters. Normally this harvest festival celebration (tau bio Ramay o o Ajau, pelepek uman) is a major festival because most of them are still farmers.

Kenyah people are very creative and they also have composed their popular songs and melody such as Lan e Tuyang, Kendau bimbin, Ilu Kenyah Kua Lo Te'a, Pabat Pibui, Atek Lan and Leleng Oyau Along Leleng. Popular traditional Kenyah musical instruments are such as jatung utang (wooden xylophone),^[7]sampe (a type of guitar),^[8]sampe bio (single stringed bass), lutong (a four- to six-string bamboo tube zither)^[9] and keringut (nose flute).^[10]

Religion

Christianity is the predominant religion of Kenyah people, with the majority belonging to the Roman Catholic faith. Before the arrival of Christian missionaries, the Kenyah people practice a traditional form of animism called 'Bungan Malan Peselong Luan'. However, today are only a small number of Kenyah people who still practice the Bungan faith. It is believed that a person will ascend to Alo Malau (seven heavens) with their ancestors (tepun) after death.^[11]

Population

Statistical figures, based on the Indonesian and Malaysian national censuses collected in 2000, recorded a total of 44,350 Kenyah people in East Kalimantan, Indonesia and 24,906 in Sarawak, Malaysia.^[12]

Sub-ethnic groups

The Kenyah people are also divided into various sub-ethnic groups such as:-^[13]

• Kenyah Badeng


• Kenyah Bakung


• Kenyah Jamok


• Kenyah Lepo' Abong


• Kenyah Lepo' Agak


• Kenyah Lepo' Anan


• Kenyah Lepo' Bam


• Kenyah Lepo' Gah


• Kenyah Lepo' Jalan


• Kenyah Lepo' Ke'


• Kenyah Lepo' Kulit


• Kenyah Lepo' Maut


• Kenyah Lepo' Sawa'


• Kenyah Lepo' Tau'


• Kenyah Lepo' Tepu


• Kenyah Lepo' Timai


• Kenyah Long Ulai


• Kenyah Long Sebatu


• Kenyah Long Belukun


• Kenyah Long Tikan


• Kenyah Ngurek


• Kenyah Sebop


• Kenyah Uma'Bangan


• Kenyah Uma' Baka


• Kenyah Uma' Kelep


• Kenyah Uma' Lasan


• Kenyah Uma' Lung


• Kenyah Uma' Pawa'


• Kenyah Uma' Sambop


• Kenyah Uma' Tukung

Origins

Kenyah architecture, circa 1898-1900.

The Usun Apau (aka Usun Apo) plateau (in the Plieran river valley) or Apo Kayan Highlands (a remote forested plateau in Malaysian and Indonesian border) in the present-day Indonesian province of East Kalimantan and Malaysia's Sarawak is believed by the Kenyah people to be their place of origin;^[14] which was the largest concentration site of Kenyah populations between the late 19th century to the early 1980s.

Languages

The Kenyah languages are a small family of Austronesian languages. Their language is called Kenyah.

Folk songs

• Leleng-Leleng^[15]
  


• Leleng^[16]
  


• Ake' Mimbin Iko' Tuyang^[17]
  


• Pabat Pibui^[18]
  


• Daleh Lenca dalem bada ^[19]
  


• Ayen Palo boka tai mutu leto ^[20]
  

Notable people

• 
  Jacob Dungau Sagan, former Member of the Malaysian Parliament, former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia, and member and Senior Vice-President of the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP)


• Joseph Balan Seling, Assistant Agriculture and Community Development Minister (1976), former state minister for local Government (1986), Senator (1998–2000) and six-term assemblyman of Telang Usan^[21]
  


• 
  Joseph Kalang Tie, footballer and Malaysia National Team representative


• 
  Larissa Ping Liew, Miss World Malaysia 2018. She is of Malaysian Chinese-Kenyah parentage.^[22][23]
  


• Marthin Billa, former Head of District in Malinau Regency, East Kalimantan (2001–2011)^[24]
  


• Reniu Sageng, author of "Sejarah Adet Pengelan Kenyah dan Badeng"^[25] and "Sejarah Layan Pengudip Kenyah Badeng",^[26] and Secretary of Kenyah Badeng Sarawak (KEBANA)


• Robin Ato, a pastor of the BEM, Miri and former BEM Sarawak Secretary-General^[27]
  


• Vom Roy, writer^[28] and ex-President of Kenyah Badeng Sarawak (KEBANA)

This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: People mentioned here does not have any sources cited and no existing links of any wiki article to their name. Proper write up with more neutrality is also needed as there is too much obsession of titles attached to their name. Please help improve this section if you can. (May 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

• David Abun Sui Anyit, member of the Sarawak Indigenous Lawyers Association (SILA) and lawyer focused on NCR issues^{[citation needed]}
  


• The late Dato' Sri Temenggong Oyong Lawai Jau (1950-1974) from Long San, Member of PANAS (Parti Negara Sarawak) then join SNAP (~1962), Paramount chief of Baram Kenyah and Kenyah Hura


• The late Temenggong Gau Jau, the first Kenyah to be a Sarawak's State Legislative Councillor during the British Colonial era (Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak)


• The late Tama Weng Tingang Member of Parliament of Baram (Sarawak United People's Party)


• YB Anyi Ngau, MP for Baram, ex-District officer for Tatau & ex-D/O for Limbang
  


• YB Kennedy Chuk Pai Ugon ADUN Murum and businessman


• Msgr. Francis Kuleh Usat, Roman Catholic Church, Diocese of Miri, Vicar General


• Father Peter Mering, Roman Catholic Church, Diocese of Miri, Catholic priest


• Father Michael Mering Jok (RC priest turns indigenous activist), a Canon Lawyer for the RC Church


• The late Langit Bit - field of Kenyah traditional medicine


• The late Raymond Abin, Environmentalist and social activist, Asian representative of the International Alliance of Indigenous peoples to the UNDRIP, Geneva, 2004-2006 and founder of Borneo Resources Institute Malaysia.


• Lucas Kalang, footballer & MSNS Football Development director


• Dr. Francis Jana Lian, Borneo rainforest vanilla, UBD Dept of Geography


• Peter Nicodimus Jalong Kallang, anti-dams activist and Chairman of SAVE Rivers


• Philip Lepun, academician UPM


• Roland Engan, lawyer


• Jimpau Balan, Asang Lawai, Tegit Usat, Mathew Ngau Jau, Sageng Jateng & Ramli Ongka Bit, artiste for Sampe' Kenyah


• Daniel Bampa & Desy Tepau from East Kalimantan, Kenyah artiste


• Temenggong Joseph Ngau Lian, KM Long Silat


• Pemanca Tony Kulleh, for Sg Asap


• Penghulu Paul Kalang, Baram


• Penghulu Surat Kuja, Belaga


• Penghulu Nyurang Uloi, Lg Geng


• Penghulu Katan Lawai, Sg Asap


• Penghulu Joseph Beluluk, Lg Aton - Tinjar


• Henry C. Belawing, Lg. San/Kuala Tutoh - Administrative Officer/Researcher (Adet Kayan-Kenyah 1994) Majlis Adat Istiadat, Sarawak

References

1. 
   ^ William W. Bevis (1995). Borneo Log: The Struggle For Sarawak's Forests. University of Washington Press. ISBN 9780295974163..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
   


2. 
   ^ PeopleGroups
   


3. 
   ^ ^ab Wil de Jong, Denyse Snelder & Noboru Ishikawa (2012). Transborder Governance of Forests, Rivers and Seas. Routledge. p. 54. ISBN 11-365-3809-7.
   


4. 
   ^ Paul C. Y. Chen, ed. (1990). Penans: The Nomads of Sarawak. Pelanduk Publications. p. 35. ISBN 96-797-8310-3.
   


5. 
   ^ Bagoes Wiryomartono (2014). Perspectives on Traditional Settlements and Communities: Home, Form and Culture in Indonesia. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 170. ISBN 98-145-8505-X.
   


6. 
   ^ Reimar Schefold, P. Nas & Gaudenz Domenig (2004). Indonesian Houses: Tradition and transformation in vernacular architecture. Singapore University Press. p. 318. ISBN 99-716-9292-9.
   


7. 
   ^ Terry Miller & Sean Williams, ed. (2011). The Garland Handbook of Southeast Asian Music. Routledge. p. 412. ISBN 11-359-0155-4.
   


8. 
   ^ Margaret J. Kartomi (1985). Musical Instruments of Indonesia. Indonesian Arts Society. p. 51. ISBN 09-589-2250-0.
   


9. 
   ^ Musicworks, Issues 73-78. Music Gallery. 1999. p. 12.
   


10. 
    ^ The Sarawak Museum Journal, Volume 40, Part 3. Sarawak Museum. 1989. p. 132.
    


11. 
    ^ http://rensraul.blogspot.com/2008/12/penganut-kristen-long-busang.html
    


12. 
    ^ See 2000 National Census, Jawatan Perangkaan Malaysia, 2000 and 2000 Population Census /Sensus Penduduk 2000, Central Bureau of Statistics Indonesia, 2000
    


13. 
    ^ "Languages of Borneo". Digital Atlas of Indonesian History. Retrieved 2015-01-07.
    


14. 
    ^ Hugo Steiner (2007). Sarawak: people of the longhouse and jungle. Opus Publications. p. 77. ISBN 98-339-8701-X.
    


15. 
    ^ "LELENG-LELENG". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-11-29.
    


16. 
    ^ "Leleng". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-11-29.
    


17. 
    ^ "Ake' Mimbin Iko' Tuyang". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-11-29.
    


18. 
    ^ "Pabat Pibui". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-11-29.
    


19. 
    ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO_e0CmHcSk
    


20. 
    ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP2rk4iA73o
    


21. 
    ^ "Former minister Balan succumbs to illness". mysarawak.org. 15 March 2010. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
    


22. 
    ^ "Sarawakian lass crowned Miss World Malaysia". The Daily Express. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
    


23. 
    ^ Jeremy Veno (2 September 2018). "Up close and personal with local beauties". The Borneo Post. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
    


24. 
    ^ Agus Andrianto (2006). The Role of District Government in Poverty Alleviation (PDF). The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). p. 9. ISBN 979-24-4636-2. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
    


25. 
    ^ http://rensraul.blogspot.my/2010/05/buku-adet-pengelan-kenyah-badeng.html
    


26. 
    ^ http://rensraul.blogspot.my/2010/05/buku-layan-udip-kenyah-badeng.html
    


27. 
    ^ "Insurance benefit for deceased Sarawakian pastor's family". Berita NECF. Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia: National Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia: 13. March–April 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
    


28. 
    ^ Vom Roy (1993). Tan Chee Beng, ed. The migration of Kenyah Badeng : a study based on oral history. Kuala Lumpur: Institute of Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya. p. 65. ISBN 9839576186.
    

Further reading

• Into the Art of Borneo: The Kenyah-Kayan Tradition


• Encyclopædia Britannica: Kayah


• People of the same heart: The social world of the Kenyah Badeng. Rita Armstrong, 1991. PhD Thesis, Dept of Anthropology, University of Sydney

External links

• Kenyah Uma Vaha website


• United Nations University's Our World 2.0 "Forbidden forest of the Dayak people" Digital Video: In Setulang village, near the Malay-Indonesian border, lives the “Oma’lung” tribe — a particular sub-group of Kenyah Dayak, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, on the island of Borneo


• 
  Kaipuleohone's Robert Blust collection includes written notes on many different varieties of Kenyah.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kenyah people.

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