Dayaks

Dayaks are an umbrella designation for numerous indigenous communities of Borneo, spanning the Indonesian province of Kalimantan and the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah. They are not a single ethnic group but a constellation of peoples with distinct languages, cultures, and social structures, including the Iban, Kenyah, Kayan, Kelabit, Penan, Lun Bawang, Lun Dayeh, Punan, and others. Traditionally, these groups inhabit the interior highlands and river basins of Borneo.

Traditionally, Dayak life centered on longhouses and subsistence farming. Many practiced shifting (slash-and-burn) cultivation of rice and other crops, supplemented by hunting, fishing, and gathering. Longhouses functioned as multi-family community homes and social centers. In some groups, headhunting occurred in past centuries as part of warfare and rites of passage; these practices have since declined and are largely remembered in historical or ceremonial contexts.

Cultural expressions include weaving, beadwork, and bark cloth production, along with carved wooden objects and ritual artifacts. The Iban are known for the pua kumbu ceremonial textile, and music features the sape, a lute-like instrument. Traditional dances and tattooing survive in various forms, often intertwined with contemporary religious beliefs and customs.

In modern times Dayak communities face pressures from logging, palm oil expansion, and land rights issues, especially in Kalimantan. Many Dayaks have converted to Christianity or Islam, while others maintain traditional beliefs in syncretic practices. The linguistic and cultural diversity remains high, but several Dayak languages are endangered, prompting revival and preservation efforts alongside integration into broader national societies.