The bening is a traditional baby carrier used by the Dayak people, especially the Dayak Kenyah in Bulungan Regency, North Kalimantan. It is made of carved wood and decorated with colorful wickers and beads, and sometimes also with metal currencies. Variations of images in the carved wood were based on the user's position on society. Images such as tiger and human face motifs indicate that the user is a member of the aristocracy or a noble family, while a plain bening without any decoration indicates the user is a commoner. [1] [2] [3]
There are variations outside of Bulungan, such as around the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, where instead of wood, most of the bening are made out of rattan. It is frequently used by Dayak parents when working on rice fields so that they can carry their child while still being able to work. [3]
The Dayak or Dyak or Dayuh are one of the native groups of Borneo. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic groups, located principally in the central and southern interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory, and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily identifiable. The Dayak were animist in belief; however, since the 19th century there has been mass conversion to Christianity as well as Islam due to the spreading of Abrahamic religions.
Central Kalimantan is a province of Indonesia. It is one of five provinces in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo. It is bordered by West Kalimantan to the west, South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan to the east, Java Sea to the south and is separated narrowly from North Kalimantan and Malaysia by East Kalimantan's Mahakam Ulu Regency. Its provincial capital is Palangka Raya and in 2010 its population was over 2.2 million, while the 2020 Census showed a total of almost 2.67 million; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 2,774,747, and was projected to rise to 2,809,700 at mid 2024.
The culture of Indonesia has been shaped by the interplay of indigenous customs and diverse foreign influences. With over 1,300 distinct ethnic groups, including significant Austronesian and Melanesian cultures, contributing to its rich traditions, languages, and customs, Indonesia is a melting pot of diversity. Positioned along ancient trade routes between the Far East, South Asia, and the Middle East, the country has absorbed cultural practices influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, and Christianity. These influences have created a complex cultural tapestry that often differs from the original indigenous cultures.
Babywearing is the practice of wearing or carrying a baby in a sling or in another form of carrier. Babywearing has been practiced for millennia around the world. Babywearing is a form of baby transport which can be used for as long as mutually desired, often until toddlerhood and beyond. In the industrialized world, babywearing has gained popularity in recent decades. Part of the reason for this shift is due to the influence of advocates of attachment parenting.
Being an indigenous tribe in Borneo, the Kayan people are similar to their neighbours, the Kenyah tribe, with which they are grouped together with the Bahau people under the Apo Kayan people group. The Kayan people are categorised as a part of the Dayak people. They are distinct from, and not to be confused with, the Kayan people of Myanmar.
Palangka Raya is the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of Central Kalimantan. The city is situated between the Kahayan and the Sabangau rivers on the island of Borneo. As of the 2020 census, the city has a population of 293,500; the official estimate as at mid 2024 was 310,182. Palangka Raya is the largest city by land area in Indonesia ; however, most of the area is forested including protected forests, nature conservation areas, and Tangkiling Forest.
Talempong is a traditional musical instrument of the Minangkabau people of Western Sumatra, Indonesia. The talempong produce a static texture consisting of interlocking rhythms.
Mandau is the traditional weapon of the Dayak people of Borneo. It is also known as Parang Ilang among the Bidayuh, Iban and Penan people, Malat by the Kayan people or Baieng by the Kenyah people or Bandau by Lun Bawang or Pelepet/Felepet by Lundayeh. Mandau is mostly ceremonial. However, a less elaborate version called Ambang is used as an everyday practical tool.
The Kenyah people are an indigenous, Austronesian-speaking people of Borneo, living in interior North and East Kalimantan, Indonesia and Sarawak, Malaysia.
The Kendayan are an Indonesian ethnic group native to Kalimantan, Indonesia in Borneo. The population of the group is around 366,000.
The Kayan River is a river of Borneo island, flowing in the North Kalimantan province of Indonesia, about 1,600 km northeast of the capital Jakarta. Tributaries include the Bahau River.
North Kalimantan is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the northernmost of Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. North Kalimantan borders the Malaysian states of Sabah to the north and Sarawak to the west, and by the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan to the south. Tanjung Selor serves as the capital of the province, while Tarakan is the largest city and the financial centre.
Tana Tidung Regency is a regency within the Indonesian province of North Kalimantan. It is Indonesia's least populous regency, with 25,584 inhabitants recorded in the 2020 census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 27,470. Its regency seat is the town of Tideng Pale, in Sesayap District, where 11,227 of the regency's population lived in mid 2023.
Sapeh, also spelled sape, sapeʼ, sapek, sapeik, sapeq, sampeh, sampeʼ, sampek, or sampeq is a traditional string instrument of Borneo-origin that developed in northern, eastern, and central regions of Kalimantan. It is a wooden-base instrument with strings attached, and works in a manner similar to the guitar.
Kancet Papatai is a traditional Indonesian war dance about a war hero and his struggle against the enemy. The dance also describes his courage and the ceremony awarding him the title Ajai for his victory.
Pontianak Malay is a Malay language spoken in Pontianak, Indonesia and the surrounding area.
The Apo Kayan people are one of the Dayak people groups that are spread throughout Sarawak of Malaysia, North Kalimantan and East Kalimantan of Indonesia. The earliest Apo Kayan people are from the riverside of the Kayan River, Bulungan Regency, North Kalimantan, Indonesia. According to the Apo Kayan Dayak legend, the Kayan people are the forefathers of which all smaller sub-ethnic Dayak people that are found along the Kayan River came from. Today, the population of the Apo Kayan people are estimated about 64,900.
The Dayak Desa War or Majang Desa War was an armed uprising by the Dayak Desa tribe in West Kalimantan against the Japanese Empire during World War II, and shortly thereafter by Indonesian nationalists against the Dutch East Indies. The war was initially caused by the local population's opposition against the rōmusha system and disappointment with Japanese occupation. In the initial phase of Japanese occupation, several Japanese companies entered the region to gain natural resources in order to support the Japanese war effort in the Pacific. Occupying Japanese forced locals to work for free for these companies, mainly in coal mining and timber production. After that, a Japanese foreman working in a company wanted to marry the daughter of Pang Linggan, a respected Dayak chief in the region, which caused more tension between locals and the Japanese. Dayak tribes in the region initiated mangkuk merah ritual, as a sign to mobilise men from villages and prepare for war. The Japanese were driven out of the Borneo interior in June 1945, but returned on 17 July and continued until 31 August 1945 when Japanese forces there surrendered and left the region, replaced by Allied forces including the Dutch, who would later be opposed again until recognition of Indonesian independence in 1949.
Kurung-kurung is a traditional Banjar musical instrument originating from South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Kurung-kurung instrument is made of long wood and the bottom is made of bamboo. This musical instrument can make a sound after being pounded to the ground and the rhythm of the music released will be different from each other, to make a different rhythm, the music player will pound the instrument alternately according to the desired rhythm.
Dayak Muslims, or also referred to as Islamized Dayaks, is a term used to describe the Dayak who have adopted Islam as their religion and become Muslim. Historically, the Dayaks were known for their diverse traditional folk belief systems, but the introduction and spread of Islam in their native Dayak region have led to the emergence of a distinct group within the Dayak community. Most of the Dayak Muslims are part of the Coastal Dayaks, who resided in coastal regions.