The Kayan people are an indigenous tribe from the island of Borneo, both in Sarawak, Malaysia and Kalimantan, Indonesia. Categorised as a part of the Dayak people, they are similar to their neighbours, the Kenyah people, with which they are grouped together with the Bahau people under the Apo Kayan people group. The Bornean Kayan are distinct from, and not to be confused with the Kayan people of Myanmar.

The population of Kayan people may be around 200,000. They are part of a larger grouping of indigenous people referred collectively as the Orang Ulu (upriver people). Similarly to other Dayak people, they are known for being fierce warriors, former headhunters, adept in upland rice cultivation, and having extensive tattoos on women and stretched earlobes amongst both sexes.

Origins

thumb|left|A European man having a discussion with leaders of the Kayan people in [[Sarawak, circa 1900 to 1940]]

Based on oral history, the Kayan people originated from the Kayan river in the North Kalimantan province of Borneo, where they lived along the upper Kayan, the middle Kapuas and Mahakam rivers. The group expanded to the south in Sarawak in historic times, generating some conflicts with the Iban tribes that were expanding north at the same time. Significant expansion of the Kayan sub-group Uma Apan to east Borneo occurred during the 17th century, which resulted in their conversion to Islam forming the ethnogenesis of the Bulungan people and the Sultanate of Bulungan.

Language

The Kayan language belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family. Other farming such as sago, corn, yams, pumpkin and tobacco are also cultivated. During the years of famine, sago was mined. Traditionally, fishing played an important role, as well as hunting wild animals with sumpitan. They were engaged in breeding pigs and chickens, while dogs were kept for hunting (ngaso<nowiki/>') and ritual purposes.

Kayan craftspeople are excellent blacksmiths (the Malat or swords are the main item of exchange), boat builders and carpenters. Loom, weaving, production of tans, arts, wood carving, making of masks and pottery were also developed. Both women and men had their earlobes stretched. Furthermore, the older generations of the Kayan people were great storytellers and songsmiths. One of the ways the storytellers entertained fellow villagers and welcomed visitors was through Tekna', now a near-lost verbal art form of storytelling via songs. Traditional Kayan songs include "Alam Lening" (Dayak Kayaan Mendalam, Kalbar) and "Lung Kayaan Mendalam".

Some of the practices and traditions have either died out or have nearly vanished due to outside influence and contact with colonialists, missionaries and the modernisation of the Borneo region since the 20th century and onward. Recently, younger indigenous people of Sarawak are making efforts in revitalizing the practices. Among some Kayan, there is a fourth estate, the lower aristocrats (hipuy ok). Among the nobility, marriages are usually outside of the community, sometimes with other ethnic groups; while community members and slaves usually marry within the community. The leader is usually elected from the nobility class (in the 19th century, he also served as a military leader). The settlement is bi-localized, and the filiation is bilateral.

Religion

The Kayan people developed a religion and a complex cult (bounty hunting and human sacrifices that disappeared at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as shamanism). The core event was the feast of collected heads, during which warrior initiations and funeral ceremonies were held. In the 20th century, some Kayan people were converted to Christianity, while others developed an indigenous religious reform after World War II, Adat Bungan. This reform started with the Kenyah Lepo' Tau of Long Nawang.

Notable people

  • Liwan Lagang - the current assistant Minister of Sarawak.
  • Francisca Luhong James - Miss Universe Malaysia 2020 and a part-time model. She is of mixed Kayan, Kenyah and Iban lineage.
  • Tajang Laing - First Kayan Teacher and First Orang Ulu Minister in Sarawak 1970s
  • Adrian Jo Milang - practitioner of the ancient Kayan oral art forms Parap and Takna'.
  • Hureng Emang - storyteller and matriach from the Tubau Kayan community of Uma Awe.
  • Victoria Mujan Nyeigok - entrepreneur and village leader of Apo Kenyiwan in Tubau.

References

Further reading

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