Thank you for your thoughtful comment and for reading my post. The Iban people, similar to a lot of indigenous groups, initially practiced animism. They had a strong connection to nature and the spirit world, showing respect for gods, ancestral spirits, and the elements around them. Rituals and ceremonies, like weddings, usually came with offerings and invocations to keep things in harmony with those spiritual forces. When Christianity and Islam showed up, they brought along new beliefs that changed up the rituals and practices as time went on.
The longhouse is at the center of Iban culture. A longhouse is not a single home but a communal living space that houses multiple families. Each family occupies a separate apartment, called a bilek, while the corridor, or ruai, serves as a shared space for communal activities, ceremonies, and gatherings. This setup shows how much the Iban valued community and looking out for each other, which were vital for their lifestyle.
I’m glad you found the discussion about these ancient customs informative. It’s great to keep these traditions alive and share them, even as they change over time 🙏.