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CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES IN MALAYSIA (EIC404)

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CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES IN MALAYSIA (EIC404)

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NAME: AFIQ AFFANDI BIN RUDY
MATRIX NUMBER: 2022748513
GROUP: LG2431C
PREPARED FOR: MR. ZACHARIAH AIDIN BIN DRUCKMAN
SUBMISSION DATE: TUESDAY, 10TH MAY 2022

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The Introduction to Arts and Literature 

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The Introduction to Arts and Literature 

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Arts and literature are two different sets of things that can be similar but they share different characteristics as well. According to (Nedha, 2016), arts can be defined as the expression of creative skill in a visual form whereby Literature can be defined as written works that have an artistic value and merit. Note that the key difference between these two terms is that art generally tends to be in a form of visual and auditory while literature is in written form.

INDEX OF THE E-PORTFOLIO:
1. Kadazan Dusun
2. Chinese Peranakan/ Baba Nyonya
3. Melanau
4. Bidayuh (The Land Dayak)
5. Burmese (The Kayans)
6. Conclusion
7. References

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Kadazan or the Dusun people are the largest indigenous ethnic group in the state of Sabah, Malaysia on the northeastern extremity of Borneo island. The Kadazan people are grouped along the coastal plain of Kudat to Beaufort and in the hills around Tambunan. The Kadazan Dusun people often speak in Kadazan which is an Austronesian language with numerous dialects.

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Literature Focus: The Mystery of The Ancient Rungus Poems

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Literature Focus: The Mystery of The Ancient Rungus Poems

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One of the sub-group under the Kadazan-Dusun community, the Rungus tribe has a very bizarre heritage of oral literature and poems that can function to appease evil spirits when they perform their healing sessions.

According to Dr. Raymond (2020), “Translating the poems into Bahasa Melayu was not easy either because they were recited in the Rungus classic language. In most cases, the people from whom I got the poems were unable to explain their conceptual meaning,” he said.

If we were to analyze our normal literature writing and the Rungus tribe literature, it would be more complex in terms of meaning and translation from the Rungus classic language to English or even Bahasa Melayu.

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The Baba Nyonya culture is associated with certain areas of Southeast Asia, namely Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. In Malaysia, the areas where Baba Nyonya culture is most prevalent are Malacca and Penang. Originally, the term Baba refers to the honorific title of Straits Chinese Men.

Firstly, "Baba Nyonya" and Peranakan are often used interchangeably, but Peranakan is actually an umbrella term to define an ethnic group by their genealogical descent from the first waves of Hoklo (Hokkien) settlers in the Malay Peninsula and Indonesian Archipelago. As time passes, these settlers mingled and married locals, giving way to a new fusion culture, otherwise known as the Peranakan. The term "Baba" is used for men/sons and "Nyonya or Nya" is used for women/daughters.

In other words, the Baba Nyonya ethnic group is also known as the descendants of the 500 youths and maids that accompanied Puteri Hang Li Po when she married the local Malaccan King, Sultan Mansur Syah around 1460 AD. The entourage of these first waves of Baba Nyonya had settled down in Bukit Cina (Chinese Hill) in the state of Melaka.

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The Splendid Display of the Peranakan Art

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The Splendid Display of the Peranakan Art

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One out of many examples of arts that belonged to this beautiful ethnic group is the famous "Kasut Manik" which was made meticulously neat and requires high precision and patience since one pair of shoes can take up to six weeks to be completed. These "Kasut Manik" values a different set of prices if were to be sold and usually, it depends on the duration of making one and also what type of beads were used in the making process.

Under the umbrella of Peranakan heritage, other arts like embroidery namely, their Baju Kebaya Nyonya, and their hand sew items like wedding purses are also other examples of arts and crafts that belonged to the Peranakans in Malaysia.

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The Kebaya Nyonya that originated from the Peranakans are just so unique and exquisite!

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Another famous Nyonya clothing is the Nyonya Kebaya. A Kebaya is a traditional blouse-dress combination worn by women in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Burma, Singapore, and southern Thailand. Sometimes it is produced from sheer material and usually worn with a Sarong or Batik Kain Panjang, or other traditional woven garments such as ikat, songket with a colorful motif.

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This wedding purse are handmade using beads just like the "Kasut Manik" or Beaded Shoes by the Peranakans. 

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Baba Nyonya Literary Festival: Poem Recitation

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Baba Nyonya Literary Festival: Poem Recitation

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Ballad of The Father. A Poem by Shirley Geok-Lin Lim, read by Audrey Lim.

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This is an example of traditional clothing for the Melanau ethnic in Miri, Sarawak.

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Melanau ethnic group in Sarawak, Malaysia

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Melanau ethnic group in Sarawak, Malaysia

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The Melanau are considered among the earliest settlers in Sarawak. The name Melanau was not used by the Melanau to refer to themselves until recently. They call themselves A-Likou that means 'people of the river'. Legend has it that the name Melanau was given by one of the Sultans of Brunei to the inhabitants of the coastal swamps flats and riverbanks of central Sarawak.

The Melanau live in a low-lying swampy plain covered by dense tropical forest in the coastal region of Sarawak. They are mostly located in and near the towns of Mukah, Matu, Daro, Dalat, Bintulu, Kanowit, and Sibu.

Due to their group affiliation, Melanau derive their identities through people such as parents, friends, relatives, and teachers. The self is a part of the community, the family, the clan, the village, and the bureaucracy. A person's family is the primary unit that defines Melanau roles, responsibilities, and status in the community.

The Melanau language consists of various dialects. However, the majority of Melanau people use the dialect from the Mukah area to communicate with those who acquire other dialects.

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Bidayuh, Sarawak (The people of the land)

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Bidayuh, Sarawak (The people of the land)

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Bidayuh is the second largest indigenous ethnic group in Sarawak after Iban. The Bidayuh people are also known as The Land Dayak. Plus, the name Bidayuh itself simply means 'people of the land', according to (Talk, 2020).

Furthermore, in Sarawak, most of the Bidayuh population are found within 40 km of the geographical area known as Greater Kuching, within the Kuching and Smarahan division. They are the second-largest Dayak ethnic group in Sarawak after the Iban as stated by (Ali, 2011).

In addition, the Bidayuh community lives in towns and villages around Kuching and Samarahan in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Meanwhile, related groups are also found in the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan.

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Burmese Minority Ethnic Group: The Kayan People

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Burmese Minority Ethnic Group: The Kayan People

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The Kayans are a sub-group of Red Karen (Karenni people), a Tibeto-Burman ethnic minority of Myanmar (Burma). They are mostly, Kayan Lahwi (also called Padaung), the group in which women wear brass neck coils. In the late 1980s and early 1990s due to conflict with the military regime in Myanmar, many Kayan tribes fled to the Thai border area.

Among the refugee camps set up, there was a Long Neck section, which became a tourist site, self-sufficient in tourist revenue and not needing financial assistance. Around the year 2004 estimate puts the population at approximately 130.000. According to Kayan tradition, the Kayan settled in the Demawso area of Karenni State in 739 AD as mentioned by (Nicolazzi et al., 2022).

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As I have mentioned before, arts can be in a form of visual expression, and sometimes it may be in a form of auditory and visual combination. The Alu Alu is a traditional dance of the Melanau tribe in Sarawak, which is an integral part of the funeral rites of the tribe. The Alu Alu dance, however, is not considered a traditional dance but a new creation dance that is performed as a means to comfort the relatives and friends of the deceased. Usually, the Alu Alu dance is performed over the span of four days at night.

There is no specific movement in the dance but can be derived from the most mundane and simple daily actions namely, cooking, bathing, farming, and many others. In addition, the movements of the dance can also be inspired by dreams, from work, or by nature.

For your information, the dance reaches a climax when one of the male dancers climbs to the top of the bamboo pole only with support from his fellow dancers holding onto the pole. The male dancer then rests his stomach on top of the pole, letting other dancers from below spin the bamboo pole incessantly, following up the beat of the music. After the music slows down, only then they will stop.

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The Alu Alu Dance, Melanau community in Sarawak

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The Alu Alu Dance, Melanau community in Sarawak

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Melanau Dance - Sarawak Cultural Village 2022

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The picture above shows a rattan fan being made by the Kadazans. The Kadazans holds way more arts and crafts than this. 

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From bamboo crafts and to wood and metal works, Kadazan Dusun people are very talented in making handmade items from natural resources. 

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From bamboo crafts and to wood and metal works, Kadazan Dusun people are very talented in making handmade items from natural resources. 

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There are plenty of handmade items from the Kadazan Dusun ethnicity that we could discover on this website. Apart from arts made using fabrics or what we called as 'kain' in Bahasa Melayu, the Kadazan also acquires the skill of making music equipment like ‘Sape’ – the traditional lute of the tribes of North Borneo carved out of a long piece of Sago tree wood and a traditional ‘Sompoton’ wind instrument are unique collectibles.

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Travelling gets us closer to the diverse cultures and people around the world. Each place has its unique culture. Art has always been an intrinsic part of cultures across the world. For centuries, arts and crafts have been the medium of expression for varied indigenous tribes. Ancient civilizations have been rooted in the divine creation of art, as a channel to express their spirituality. Art has been an integral part of the tribes of Sabah. My keen interest in indigenous arts led me to explore these cultural treasures. More than anything, it has been a sacred process and way of life.

Sabah is home to several tribes that have coexisted and blended harmoniously. My inclination towards tribal arts led me to explore the traditional arts and crafts of the indigenous tribes of North Borneo. What's more? They are great souvenirs to carry back home; for it will be your most cherished memory of the destination and contribute to the lives of these tribes. Let's journey into the world of Sabah's indigenous works of heart.

Rattan weaves

Weaving has been the backbone of the tribes of Sabah. The abundance of Rattan in the lush forests naturally transformed to art in the lives of the tribal folk. You can choose from a wide range of products such as mats, bags, traditional hats, containers, baskets, vases and so on. The tribal craftsmen have been weaving these utilities for practical purpose in their lives.

Bamboo crafts

The indigenous tribes of Sabah have been using Bamboo for everything from houses to fishing equipment. Crafts made out of Bamboo are a common sight in the Sabahan countryside. Baskets are mainly used by the tribes in their day-to-day lives. They use them as storage, mats, baskets and fishing equipment. Baskets, mats, trays, storage chests, musical instruments and other such products can be found at most local markets.

Leaf Origami

Pleated works using natural materials is common amongst the tribal communities. The tribes have been using Pandan and Coconut leaves to weave practical objects for daily use as it is abundantly available in the jungles. The Pandan and Coconut leaves are processed at home into flexible straws which are further woven into roofs, mats, bags, baskets, hats, plates, food wrappers and other such utility items. You can find some interesting decorative and functional household items at the local markets.

Beadwork

The tribal women are extremely skilled in Beadwork. The fine artistry is reflected in their traditional attires. Beadwork serves a significant purpose in their culture. The type, colour and pattern of beads worn by the women is an indicator of their social status and identity. Beads woven in patterns and motifs inspired by nature such as flowers, butterflies, birds, plants and other elements are an integral part of their traditions.

The Rungus women are renowned for their artistry. A type of neckpiece known as 'Vinusak' can be found in local markets. The ' Vinusak' pattern stands for the young buds of flowers, symbolizing life. Beadwork on fabric and ensembles are also popular. The artistic Borneo beadworks are quite a collector's muse.

Sounds of Sabah

The indigenous tribes of Sabah are deeply rooted in music and dance. It has been a significant form of expression in their culture. Beautifully carved musical instruments with interesting sounds are a speciality. ' Sape' - the traditional lute of the tribes of North Borneo, carved out of a long piece of Sago tree wood or a traditional 'Sompoton' wind instrument are unique collectables.

Also read: the music festival held in the rainforests of Malaysia that you must visit.

Hand-woven cloth

Weaving is an integral part of the indigenous tribes of Sabah. Hand-woven cloth locally referred to as 'Kain' is one of the most valuable living traditions, passed on from one generation to another. One such speciality weave is 'Dastar' from the Bajau tribe. The art of weaving backstrap looms is still practised by the tribal women; and makes up for their source of income. The weaves are available in a variety of forms - clothes, bags, rugs, blankets, tapestries and so on.

Batik works

This ancient art of Batik involves using wax-resist dyeing to create beautiful patterns and colours. It is a form of textile printing practised for generations. Today, this art form is diminishing but a lot of local tribes have kept their traditions alive. The Rungus women typically wear batik scarves. The Sabahan Batik patterns are inspired by nature, depicting flowers, creatures, leaves and geometric patterns found in nature. Stylish Batik sarongs are quite a rave.

Woodworks

The indigenous tribes have great mastery over wood carving. Magnificent sculptures, masks and instruments carved out of wood can be found in their culture. Today, this has also become a source of income for the indigenous artisans. You can choose from a host of cultural antiques used by the tribes - a Murut Blowpipe, traditional masks, sculptures, storage, and rustic décor items.

Metal crafts

Some of the indigenous tribes are skilled in metal work. Brass and Bronze were used traditionally by the tribes to craft utensils, musical instruments, heirloom jewellery, sculptures and other utility items. The 'Tangkong' - a hip belt strung on rattan using coins, shell rings and brass rings is a unique heirloom piece worn by Kadazan-Dusun women. The ancestral ones are interesting items to have but are very expensive as they are usually passed on from one generation to another. However, you can find cheaper replica works at the local markets.

Pottery

Sabah is blessed with rich soil hence it has been widely used by the tribes to create utility items and crafts. Traditionally, mud utensils, pots and containers were used. You can find some great mud works at the local handicraft markets.

Sabah is truly a cultural experience. Exploring its indigenous arts and crafts is a process of learning about traditions back in time. Travel can be a beautiful medium to access these indigenous works and expose it to our own little world. This can make a meaningful contribution to the lives of these communities. This inter-connectedness can be cherished by helping each other in the smallest ways. That Rungus beaded jewellery or a Kadazan-Dusun woven hat could bring food to a family's table or enrich someone's life in little ways you wouldn't imagine. So go on an indigenous hunt and bring purpose to your travels.

Also read: From headhunters to bead makers - the fascinating indigenous tribes of North Borneo.

Where to shop

The Handicraft Market located at Jalan Tun Faud Stephens along the same line as the Waterfront is the place to find all things Sabah. If you explore it patiently, you can find unique Sabahan souvenirs and local foods.

You can also find unique indigenous arts and crafts at the shop inside the Mari Mari Cultural Village.
Also read: Interesting things we found at the Sabah market that you might love to try
Where to stay

The Le Meridien would be my recommendation. Located right in the centre of Kota Kinabalu city, it accessible to the most popular attractions. Plush rooms with modern amenities and panoramic views, Le Meridien is great on hospitality. Their in-house café and bar are great for a relaxed hangout. Their Vista Sea View suites and the family suites come with the best views!

Right by the hotel, you can find the Handicrafts Market where you could shop for local handicrafts and specialities. The market has some interesting local delights and souvenirs you can carry back home. You could also indulge in a wide range of tropical Sabahan Teh Tarik in the bylanes. You are just a few minutes away from the waterfront, handicrafts market, shopping malls and the hottest nightlife spots of Kota Kinabalu.

Reaching Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

The best way to reach Kota Kinabalu is by air. I recommend flying with Malindo Air. I must admit that they are great on comfort, connectivity, and hospitality. The flights are very affordable for the top-notch quality of services offered on board. There's no doubt, Malindo is going to be my preferred choice for Malaysia and other South-East Asian countries.

For those from countries that have no direct flights for Kota Kinabalu can reach Kuala Lumpur and then fly to Kota Kinabalu.

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Exploring the Indigenous Arts And Crafts Of Sabah | Travel.Earth

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Travelling gets us closer to the diverse cultures and people around the world. Each place has its unique culture. Art has always been an intrinsic part of cultures across the world. For centuries, arts and crafts have been the medium of expression for varied indigenous tribes.

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Front view of the Melanau tall longhouse that is way unique than a regular longhouse. 

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The Arts of Architecture in the Melanau Longhouse

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The Arts of Architecture in the Melanau Longhouse

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The Melanau tall longhouse (MTL) is one of Malaysia's least exposed vernacular architecture examples that can be found only in the interior of the island of Borneo.

According to (Awang Musadat, 2019), mentioned that after finishing the research paper, the findings suggest that culture plays a role, not only in their life but also towards the sustainable architecture of their traditional tall longhouse.

In addition, the Melanau people in Sarawak build their longhouses significantly higher than other longhouses due to safety reasons. The tall structure is made from strong Belian wood to avoid being swept away by flash floods or any natural disasters like heavy rains and strong winds.

On the other hand, the floor of the house is designed for defensive and offensive purposes to protect them from enemies and intruders. Last but not least, the reason for the unique multiple stories built in the tall longhouse is for the living arrangement of their people.

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The arts and crafts made from Bidayuh people are often associated with beadworks due to their culture of using beads for certain purposes. 

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The magnificent culture of beadwork: Bidayuh edition

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The magnificent culture of beadwork: Bidayuh edition

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When the first traders brought small colourful glass beads to our shore, in the 8th or 9th centuries, it was then fed and assimilated to the bead culture that had already existed in Borneo. Back then, the indigenous people of Borneo used organic material to create their own beads namely, bones, teeth, shells, and even small stones for a simple bead.

The earliest glass beads were quite small in size, like a peppercorn to be compared with. They were plain in colours like red, white, yellow, black, and turquoise.

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The role of Talaala (Poetry) towards the community of Kadazan Dusun, in Sabah

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The role of Talaala (Poetry) towards the community of Kadazan Dusun, in Sabah

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In the Kadazan Dusun community, one tribe known as Bundu possesses Talaala (A Literature element similar to poems and haiku). Meanwhile, Hiis (that is similar to 'puisi' in Bahasa Melayu). In addition, Talaala is a component of 'hiis' that is almost similar to 'pantun'.

This poem (Talaala) is acquired mainly from the old ancestors orally and if it is not preserved in a form of documentation, it will soon be extinct as mentioned by (Kiting et al., 2016) in their research paper.

A collective effort has been done by (Kiting et al., 2016) in doing further research and compiling as much Talaala as they could openly from their target group, the informants in the Tamparuli district. As much as 199 Talaala has been collected from 20 informants.

Last but not least, the data analysis shows that Talaala had a very crucial role in enriching one's education, morally.

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One of the folklore and legend that seldom people know about.

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A Bidayuh legend of seven blind brothers and the origin story of Gawai Timpijog

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A Bidayuh legend of seven blind brothers and the origin story of Gawai Timpijog

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How to Play a Kiromboi (rain-maker). Kiromboi is also considered as a contemporary craft in the Bidayuh community. 

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Arts and Crafts: Musical Instruments from the Bidayuh community

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Arts and Crafts: Musical Instruments from the Bidayuh community

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For the Bidayuh community, playing music act as a crucial role in every ritual they perform. Music functions to raise the spirit and also drive out evil spirits. Furthermore, music also plays a part in the motif of a notice of the ceremony that were conducted.

The traditional Music from the Bidayuh community generally consists of a large gong, cymbal, drum and Tawak (a small gong). There are also other traditional instruments, namely, flute /reed flute and guitar. However, this kind of musical instrument is not too complex rather than its manufacturing process.

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Berinchoyo is a bamboo transverse flute 

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These playable flutes are made from baloi bamboo and are played by both men and women. The upper third of the flute is decorated with buti’ dawe’ tiko (edible fern shoot motifs), using the bamboo whittling technique.

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This instrument is made using a pair of edible kiromboi paddy snail shells and played with a bamboo stick, such ‘rainmakers’ are based on a local legend where a prolonged drought was ended when frog like calls were played en-masse.

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This is a map showing more than 40% of people living in Burma belong to one of the military-ruled nation's different minority groups. 

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Infographic poster: The ethnic minorities of Burma

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Infographic poster: The ethnic minorities of Burma

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The government recognizes eight distinct ethnic groups, with dozens of sub-groups, but refuses to acknowledge others. However, for this e-portfolio, we will discuss the ethnic minorities of the Kayan people.

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According to (Backman, 2011), the practice of adding coils around the neck had the appearance of lengthening the neck, but in reality, it pushed down the collar bone, and compressed the rib cage.

Moreover, the reason as to why The Kayan people practice this kind of act is still unsolvable, but it turns out one is that it protected women from becoming slaves, making them less attractive to other tribes. The Padaung came to see it as attractive and the practice does still continue among some Padaung.

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To begin with, understanding as well as embracing the uniqueness of a tradition, let it be any ethnicity that we discover or learn is not always easy. A very deep comprehension and interest are needed for one to be very aware and delightful of these magnificent ethnicities that exist in Malaysia. As an English student learning Intercultural Communication, I find out that it is very crucial to be aware of ethnic diversity for future purposes other than gaining new knowledge about them. In a nutshell, always be humble and always show your appreciation towards the culture you encounter in life.