 Lun Bawang young women in traditional attire. | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Approximately 50,550 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Borneo: | |
 Malaysia | 26,450(2020 census)[1] |
 Sabah | 6,941 (2020 census)[2] |
 Sarawak | 17,676 (2020 census)[3] |
 Indonesia | 23,000(2007 SIL)[4] |
 Brunei | 1,110(2021 census)[5] |
| Languages | |
| Lun Bawang (dialects includeTrusan,Lun Daye,Papadi,Putoh/Putuk,Mengalong,Lun Dayah,Adang,Tabun,Treng,Kolur,Padas,Trusan andLepu Potong),Indonesian language,Malaysian language,Sarawakian Malay | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity (predominantly),Islam,Animism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Apo Duat peoples (Kelabit,Kiput, Berawan,Sa'ban), Lengilu, Putoh, Tring, OtherOrang Ulu | |
TheLun Bawang (formerly known asTrusan Murut and Mengalong Murut orSouthern Murut) is an ethnic group found in Central NorthernBorneo. They are indigenous to the southwest ofSabah (Interior Division includingLabuan) and the northern region ofSarawak (Limbang Division), highlands ofNorth Kalimantan (Long Bawan ,Krayan,Malinau,Mentarang ) andBrunei (Temburong District).
In the Malaysian state of Sarawak, the Lun Bawang (through the termMurut) are officially recognised by the Constitution as a native of Sarawak[6] and are categorised under theOrang Ulu people; whilst in the neighbouring state of Sabah andKrayan highland in Kalimantan, they are sometimes namedLundayeh orLun Daye. In Brunei, they are also identified by law as one of the 7 natives (indigenous people) of Brunei, through the termMurut.[7] Nevertheless, in Sabah, Kalimantan, and Brunei, the term Lun Bawang is gaining popularity as a unifying term for this ethnicity across all regions. There are also other alternative names such as Lun Lod, Lun Baa', and Lun Tana Luun.
Lun Bawang people are traditionally agriculturalists and practiseanimal husbandry such as rearingpoultry,pigs, andbuffaloes. Lun Bawangs are also known to be hunters and fisherman.
The word Lun Bawang meanspeople of the country ornative people, whilst Lun Dayeh meansupriver people orpeople of the interior.[8]Orang Ulu and Lun Lod meanspeople living downriver or near the sea. Other names are derived from geographical reference to their rice cultivation, for example, Lun Baa' (swamps) who lives near swampy areas and grow wet rice, and Lun Tana' Luun (on the land) who cultivates dry rice.
While insisting that they never called themselvesMurut, the Lun Bawangs were formerly identified asMurut by theBritishcolonists and by outsiders (other ethnic groups).[9] InLun Bawang language, the wordMurut either means 'to massage' or 'to give dowry', and these meanings have little or no relation at all to the identity of the people.[10] The name Murut might have been derived from the word"Murud", a mountain located near an old Lun Bawang settlement, hence might have just meant 'mountain men' or 'hill people' but was instead used by the colonist to identify this ethnic group.
In addition to that,ethnologist found that the classification under the nameMurut is confusing as the term is used differently in Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei, that is whilst in Brunei and Sarawak it is used to describe the Lun Bawang people, in Sabah it is used to identify an ethnic group that is linguistically and culturally different from the Lun Bawangs.[11][12]
In the early 1970s, the use of the termLun Bawang began to gain popularity amongst ethnologists and linguists, and it is now the most commonly used term to identify this ethnic group. In Sarawak, the decision to replace the term 'Murut' with 'Lun Bawang' to identify this ethnic group was made unanimously by Lun Bawang community leaders,[10] and the official usage of this term is now legally binding following the passing of Interpretation Act by Sarawak's Legislative Assembly in 2002.[13]
The Lun Bawangs are one of the indigenous ethnic groups who have inhabited Borneo Island for centuries. According toTom Harrisson (1959) andS. Runciman (1960), the Lun Bawang community is one of the earlier settlers in the mountainous regions of central Borneo and they are related to theKelabit tribe. Both tribes are linked to a common lineage termed theApo Duat or "Apad Uat" people, of whichApo Duat is the area consisting of theKrayan highland andKelabit Highlands.
One theory suggests that Apo Duat is the homeland of this common ancestor and that they have expanded out to the coastal area.[14] The migration of these people to the low lands and gradual spreading out might have been spurred by various waves of migration of the Lun Bawang people from different clans. The migration of Lun Bawang people from one clan to a region already inhabited by another clan, causes the latter to move to another region, despite them having a similar culture and language. The strong clan identity of the Lun Bawang people is shown by their common tradition of identifying themselves based on their village or geographical location, for example, 'Lun Adang' who once resides in the Adang river basin or 'Lun Kemaloh' who comes from the Kemaloh river.
One other theory suggests that these Apo Duat people were once natives of old Brunei, but were pushed upriver into the highlands by the invading tribes such asKayan,Kenyah, andIban people. The ones that remained downriver (Lun Bawang people) were isolated from the ones who migrated to the highlands (Kelabit), causing their culture and language to slightly diverge.
Another theory, on the other hand, suggests that the migration originated from the opposite side of Borneo (nowNorth Kalimantan). It was suggested that the Apo Duat people were once farmers in the lowlands downstream of theMalinau river, living closely with theTidong people. However, attacks by Muslim raiders (Bugis andTausug) probably in the 17th century, caused them to migrate to the Krayan highlands, whilst the Tidong people converted to Islam.[15]
Nevertheless, these theories have yet to be proven and there is no substantial evidence to trace the origin of the Lun Bawang people or to prove any of these theories.
According to Brunei oral tradition, the Lun Bawangs (Murut) were brought under the rule of the Brunei kingdom by peaceful measures during the reign ofAwang Alak Betatar. This is said to be accomplished through dealings between the Lun Bawang and Awang Alak Betatar's brother, Awang Jerambok.[16] Under the rule of the Brunei kingdom, the Lun Bawang were subject to taxes and tribute. The local leaders from the higher class (lun mebala orlun do) were appointed titles of nobility and were granted an office in the sultanate. Some Lun Bawang were assimilated into Malay culture.[17] Lun Bawang community located near the Brunei capital was firmly integrated into the Brunei polity.[18]
Awang Alak Betatar and his 13 brothers were the founding fathers of Brunei, and are believed to be half Muruts, as they had a common Murut father by the name of Upai Semaring or Awang Semaun.[19] These 14 saudaras or 14 brothers are Kelabit (Murut) and their followers were early "empire builders" of Brunei.[20] Lun Bawangs and Kelabits (Muruts) are of royal descent from theHouse of Bolkiah, as they use titles such as Dayang, Sultan, Agong, andPengiran, names used by their ancestors in the past.[21]
Nevertheless, the peace dealing between the Lun Bawang and the Brunei Malay rulers was by no means everlasting as throughout the history of Brunei sultanate, the Lun Bawang had often rebelled against its Brunei ruler. It has been suggested that the insurrection of the Maruts (sic) - i.e. the Lun Bawangs - and Chinese had led to the Brunei Sultan requesting assistance from the Sulu sultanate to suppress the rebellion in 1658, which resulted in the Brunei Sultan ceding his territory ofKimanis until Tapean Durian to theSultan of Sulu as a sign of gratitude.[22]
Early Europeans used the exonymMaroot,Marut,Morut, orMurut to describe the Lun Bawang people, and this might have been introduced by the Brunei Malays who came in contact with them in Brunei. The earliest European written account of the Lun Bawang people is probably byThomas Forrest during his voyage to New Guinea, the Moluccas, and Balambangan in 1776. He described that the Borneans (sic - i.e. Bruneians -) tended to preclude the Chinese or European from directly dealing with the Maroot in trade, reserving the trade (as middlemen) to themselves.[23]
In John Hunt'sSketch of Borneo or Pulo Kalamantan in 1812, he described the Lun Bawangs as aborigines ofBorneo proper, and that they are much fairer and better featured than the Malays, having a stronger and robust frame and are credited as a brave race of people.[24] Europeans have also obtained the description of the Lun Bawang from Brunei Malays who came in contact with them. For example, during the voyage of the AmericanHimmaleh to Brunei, Brunei noblemen (pangeran) reported that there are 21 tribes in Brunei - Murut being one of them - and that these tribes arekafir (do not practice Islam) and practicesheadhunting.[25] DuringHenry Keppel's expedition to Borneo, he noted that the Lun Bawang are the inhabitants of the Borneo interior and that the Murut and Dyak people had given place to Kayan people whenever they are in contact with each other.[26]Sir James Brooke in his journal written on 24 December 1850, described the oppression that the Lun Bawang (then called Limbang Muruts) people faced by Brunei aristocrats, and where some had fought against this tyranny.[27]
A more elaborate European account of the Lun Bawang people is bySpenser St. John in 1860, where he described the impoverished condition of the Lun Bawang (then called Limbang Muruts) people under the rule of the Brunei Sultanate. He also gave an account of the aborigines (Murut andBisaya) rise to insurrection. However, these rebellions were always suppressed by threats from the Brunei government to bring in Kayans to subdue the opposition.[28][29] Spenser St.John also described the tyranny conducted by the Brunei aristocrats upon the Limbang Muruts, which include seizing their children to be sold as slaves if taxes were not paid, and on one occasion, when the Brunei capital was in a state of alarm by the marauding Kayan warriors, the Brunei aristocrat offered a whole Limbang Murut village to be pillaged, in return for the safety of the capital.[29]
Almost all of the traditional economical activities of the Lun Bawang and are related to rice plantation, and they cultivate both rice on a hill calledlati' tana' luun and rice from a paddy field calledlati' ba.[30][31] The production of rice is related to ones' prestige/financial status, as an excess of rice harvest is traditionally consumed in hugeirau feast, signifying wealth and fortune. Cooked rice is wrapped inside banana leaves calledLuba' Laya, and rice is also brewed into rice wine orburak for practical reasons. Partly due to this, drinkingburak had been an important (and also notorious, as is deemed by the Christian missionaries and the Brooke government) custom of the Lun Bawangs, but now the rice wine production has significantly dwindled due to effort done by the Christian missionaries and Brooke government to encourageprohibition of alcohol amongst the community in the early 20th century.
Meat and fish are brined or pickled using salt and are stored in hollow bamboo stalk for a month and the pickled food is calledtelu'. Meat and fish are also preserved by smoking. Salt is obtained by evaporating brine from salt spring (lubang mein).[32]
Cattle and buffaloes are bred for their meat and can serve as a symbol of financial status. These animals are commonly used asdowry that is presented to the bride's family from the groom's side.
In the old days, the men wear jackets made of tree barks calledkuyu talun. Cloth wrapped around the forehead is calledsigar and loincloth is calledabpar. A longmachete (pelepet) is tied to the waist, especially when it needs to be carried to tribal wars. As for the women, they wearpata on their head,beret on their waist,bane around the neck, andgileng orpakel is worn as ornaments on their hands and wrists. "Pata", or cap made entirely of bead, is worn as a status symbol.[33]
The Lun Bawang belong to a group termed as Nulang Arc group (Metcalf 1975). This, along with other ethnicities such as the Berawans, theMelanaus, and the Kajangs traditionally practised an ancient tradition of secondary treatment of the dead. In Lun Bawang, this is calledmitang butung. Metcalf theorised that this practice is a characteristic of the most ancient cultural tradition in Borneo, before the arrival of other invading ethnics that influenced the diversification of culture and language in Borneo.[34]
The Lun Bawangs called their languageBuri Lun Bawang orBuri tau, ''our language''. The language is classified under Austronesian > Western Malayo-Polynesian > North Bornean > North Sarawak > Dayic (Apo Duat/Apad Uat) family.[35]
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Lun Bawang people celebrateIrau Aco Lun Bawang (Lun Bawang festival) annually on the first of June inLawas,Sarawak.[38] This festival is traditionally a celebration of the rice harvest, but now it showcases a variety of Lun Bawang culture and events such asRuran Ulung (beauty pageant contest) andngiup suling (bamboo musical instrument band).
InSipitang district ofSabah, Sabahan Lun Bawangs and Lundayeh celebrates the harvest festival (Kaamatan) biennially during the Festival of GATA (Gasing and Tamu Besar), during which traditional dances and costumes are being showcased along with those of other native ethnics in the district such as theMurut,Kedayan andBrunei Malay people.
Being a predominantly Christian community, Lun Bawang also since the 1950s traditionally celebrates "Irau Rayeh", which is anEaster festival and celebration.[39]
Lun Bawangs were mostly animist before the 1920s. Under the rule of theWhite Rajahs (Vyner Brooke) in Sarawak, Christian missionaries (particularly of the Borneo Evangelical Mission) had better accessibility to the Lun Bawang settlements in the interior and highlands and proceeded to preach Christianity to the Lun Bawang people.[40]
The majority of the Lun Bawangs are Christians, predominantly of theBorneo Evangelical Church. A small number are of other Christian denominations, such asTrue Jesus Church, theSeventh-day Adventist Church, theRoman Catholic Church, or of another religion, such asIslam andBuddhism.
Before the rule of the White Rajahs, the Lun Bawang tribe was in a deplorable state; frequently involved in tribal wars, headhunting, and excessive alcohol consumption.[41] The Lun Bawang tribe was often a victim of political manipulation by the Sultanate of Brunei. For example they were used as sacrifice for the marauding Kayan people who threaten to attack the Brunei capital in the 1860s. The low standard of living led to a severe outbreak of diseases (cholera and smallpox) amongst the community, and the population significantly dwindled to the point of near extinction in the 1920s.[42]
With the advent of Rajah rule and conversion to Christianity, the standard of living improved tremendously, as the missionaries introduced better healthcare, a sanitary system, and proper education system. The Lun Bawang were very zealous at school, and in 1940, about 95% of the Lun Bawang and related Kelabit tribe under 20s in Lawas Damit are literate.[43]
TheBorneo Evangelical Mission movement has played a major role in the social and economic development of the Lun Bawang community, especially in educating the people on the importance of education and health, also in maintaining peace between Lun Bawang people and those from other ethnic living nearby.[44]
Whilst many Lun Bawangs attained a higher level of education in nearby towns such asLawas,Limbang, andMiri, and in Sabah,Sipitang andBeaufort; and subsequently furthering their studies in the state capitals or in Peninsular Malaysia, there is still relatively little development of schools in Lun Bawang settlement in the interior, such asLong Pasia orBa' Kelalan. Therefore, many Lun Bawang youth in the interior travel a distance from their home to pursue education, sometimes via river transport or gravel road.
Job intake in some of the main industries in Sabah and Sarawak, such as oil and gas andpalm oil industry remains relatively small, and some are still involved in subsistence farming and fishing. However, with continued efforts, many of them managed to become professionals. A 2011 statistics have shown that there are around 233 graduates amongst the Lun Bawang community in Sarawak.[45]
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Lun Bawang/Murut(Sarawak)=19,297; Lundayeh=7,153
Number of population by sub-ethnic group, Sabah, 2020 - Lun Bawang/Murut(Sarawak)=877; Lundayeh=6,064
Number of population by sub-ethnic group, Sarawak, 2020 - Lun Bawang/Murut(Sarawak)=17,315; Lundayeh=361
Population by Race, 2021, Brunei Darussalam, Melayu Murut=1110 (0.4%)
