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Our
People, Our Artist
In an area roughly the size of England live 27 distinct ethnic
groups speaking more than 40 languages. Each group has its own
culture, crafts and legends. This diversity is the fertile ground
in which Sarawak creativity flourishes.
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myriad origins, legends, beliefs and customs give rise to crafts
that turn everyday objects into collector’s pieces. |
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Threads from all over Asia are woven into ethnic Sarawakian
crafts. The legends of each ethnic group, their origins lost
in the mists of time, are kept alive by local craftsmen.
What attracts most visitors to Sarawak is its ethnic diversity.
There are 27 distinct indigenous ethnic groups that speak 45
different languages and dialects and are proud to call Sarawak
their home. That's the official figure. And that's not counting
the Malays and the
many different Chinese
groups with all their different dialects that have also settled
in Sarawak. The Ibans are the most numerous
and famous of Sarawak's ethnic groups. Once the legendary warriors
of Borneo, the most feared of the headhunting tribes, they have
adopted a peaceful agrarian lifestyle. But their warrior past
is reflected in their handicrafts. The 26 other groups are equally
gracious and engaging hosts. The Bidayuh,
formerly known as the "Land Dayaks", enchanted the first White
Rajah with their gentleness. Then there are the Melanau
fisherman of the littorals of Central Sarawak, and the multitude
of upriver tribes who collectively form the Orang
Ulu (people of the headwaters); the nomadic Penan, guardians
of the rainforest. |
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