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The Iban of Temburong: Migration, Adaptation and Identity in Brunei Darussalam
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Abstract:
Iban are the most well-documented and studied of all Borneo indigenous peoples; there is a
wealth of material on their language, history, social organisation and culture which can be used
for comparative purposes. Yet, the Iban of Brunei are relatively under-studied. This paper is
based on fieldwork on selected Iban communities in Temburong, Brunei Darussalam during
research visits there between 2018 and 2021. The focus is on current developments and the
ways in which the Iban have adapted to life in the sultanate and come to terms with its politico
legal and socio-economic environment. The heartland of Iban society and culture is located in
the neighbouring state of Malaysian Sarawak, where the Iban comprise around 30 per cent of
the total population, which on current estimates amounts to about 840,000. In Brunei, the Iban
are a minority population of about 20,000 and, in terms of its Constitution and the Nationality
Act of 1961, they are not considered as one of the recognised indigenous populations (puak
jati) of the state. Despite being marginal to the Brunei state, they have chosen to make their
home here and enjoy the support and the employment opportunities that the state provides. This
paper aims to fill a gap in Iban Studies by providing recent data on the Temburong Iban’s social
organisation, economic activities and cultural identity in conjunction with their responses to
their minority status in Brunei. It is also an ethnographic prelude to a prospective major study
of the Iban of Brunei.
Description:
Date:
2021
Authors:
Victor T. King
Magne Knudsen
Publisher:
Institute of Asian Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam
