TRADITIONAL DANCE-NGAJAT IBAN FROM SARAWAK

Iban people are also talented musicians and dancers. During the main festivals of Gawai Dayak (Harvest), Gawai Kenyalang (Hornbill) and Gawai Antu (Festival of the Dead), the people will bring out their traditional instruments and celebrate but playing and dancing. Some of the Iban dances such as ngajat  are pretty amazing when you see them live.

The Ibans perform a unique dance called the ngajat. This type of dance is the most popular in Sarawak and Borneo island itself. There are many

types of dances, including;

1.           Ngajat Induk

2.           Ngajat Bebunoh

3.           Ngajat Lesong

4.           Ngajat Semain

5.           Ngajat Berayah

6.           Ngajat Ngemai Antu Pala

For the Iban people, ngajat is the dance to celebrate the Gawai festival, as well as celebrating the war victory. Dancers will wear traditional clothing such as ‘mesh’, ‘gagung’ or dress the bird. They also wore hats decorated with bird feathers. Gagung is a bold and loud clothes made from animal skin like leather bears , but not sewn up the left and right.Each rhythm is played in accordance with the ritual. For Ari Gawai Sandau, Rayah drums  played for the guest of honor and celebrate Gawai to ber’Rayah’ while carrying the skull of  an enemy.