Kenyah

The Kenyah are an indigenous ethnic group of Borneo, classified as part of the Dayak peoples. They live primarily in the interior regions of Indonesian Kalimantan (especially East Kalimantan and nearby districts) and in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The Kenyah speak several Kenyah languages, which are part of the Austronesian language family; many dialects exist, and some are not mutually intelligible.

Traditionally, Kenyah society is organized around longhouses and kin-based villages. The Tuai Rumah, or longhouse head, often presides with a council of elders, while kinship ties and customary law guide social life. Villages practice shifting (swidden) agriculture focused on rice, with crops such as maize and yams, complemented by hunting and fishing. Craft production, including ikat weaving and beadwork, is highly developed, and weaving patterns and ceremonial attire play important roles in communal rituals and life-cycle events.

Religious beliefs among the Kenyah have historically encompassed ancestor worship and animist spirits tied to the forest and rivers. In the modern era, many Kenyah communities have converted to Christianity, especially Protestant denominations, while others maintain traditional rites alongside Christian practice. Islam is less common but present among some individuals and communities.

Historically, contact with Malay, Chinese, and European traders, followed by colonial administrations and missionary activity, brought new religious, educational, and economic influences. Today the Kenyah face pressures from development, logging, and land-use changes, which affect traditional livelihoods and language transmission. Preservation of language, adat (customary law), and cultural heritage remains a focus for many Kenyah communities.