BEN POST4

 

Iban Dance Photo Free Stock Photos

IBAN MUSIC & DANCE

    The Iban culture lays the island of Borneo, a Malaysian providence. They are known for their bamboo and rubber productions but they are most known for rice farming. Most families that live on the island grow rice. Although, some farmers on the island plant gourds, pumpkins, cucumbers, maize and cassava. Fishing is the main protein in their diet but their productive and successful fishing techniques has caused the fish population to go down drastically. Because of this, some of the men have gone out and hunted the wildlife on the island.

    Iban dance and music is heavily influenced by their religious beliefs. They believe in the bird god Sengalang Burong. "Iban religion is a product of a holistic approach to life, in which attention is paid to all events in the waking and sleeping states" (Sutlive Jr). Iban music is primarily made up of  the chanting of ritual poetry to the beat of different drums. Their dances rely heavily on vocalization of the poetry. The music is usually played with a drum called Katebong drums made of wood and animal skin. Up to eleven percussionist will play the drums for the vocalist. The dances go with the music in the fact that they are slow and graceful. These dancers will wear colorful outfits whilst dancing to the poetry and drums. 

Bibliography

Matusky, Patricia Ann. 2012. “Timang (Pengap), Pelian, and Sabak : Iban Leka Main Singing Styles.” Borneo Research Bulletin 43 (2012): 114–33. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ant&AN=647247&site=ehost-live.

Sutlive Jr, Vinson H. 1995. “Culture Summary: Iban.” New Haven, Conn.: HRAF. https://ehrafworldcultures.yale.edu/document?id=oc06-000.