Bidayuh, Sarawak

About Bidayuh

Bidayuh is a collective name for a group of ethnic tribes in Sarawak. The name "Bidayuh" means "people of the land". They are also known as the Land Dayaks, a term first used during the time of James Brooke, the first White Rajah of Sarawak.

Bidayuhs are one of the main tribal groups in Sarawak. They come from the areas around Kuching and Samarahan. In fact, the majority of Bidayuhs live within a 40 km radius from Kuching. They are the second most numerous group of Dayak tribe after the Iban.

Towns where the Bidayuh form a majority include Lundu, Bau, Penrissen, Padawan, Siburan and Serian. The Bidayuh of different area speak their own dialect. These dialects are not mutually intelligible, and as a result, the Bidayuhs often have to depend on using English or Malay as a common language.

Bidayuhs were traditionally animist, but a majority has now converted to Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism. Since the establishment of Malaysia, a number of Bidayuhs have also converted to Islam.

Many Bidayuh tribes actually do not have anything in common with each other, although they were groups as "Bidayuh" by the government. Within Lundu itself are Bidayuhs that speak Jagoi, Salako and Lara. The Lara, although grouped with the other Bidayuh tribes, speak a language that the other tribes do not understand.

Bidayuh headhouse, Sarawak Cultural Village (2 October 2004)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

Interior of the Bidayuh headhouse, Sarawak Cultural Village (2 October 2004)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

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