THE Bidayuh is a disunited ethnic group and always has been.
Now, before the Bidayuh or their friends and supporters get hot under the collar, let me explain.
First of all, it is rather strange that a community that is a minority, that accounts for merely 10 per cent of the state’s total population of 2.9 million people, is not one people like the Malay or the Iban, let’s say.
What I’m getting at is they are united in terms of shared values, customs, traditions, and even socio-politically, but they are disunited linguistically. They just can’t communicate well with one another because of the differences between their sub-dialects.
There are enough differences between the Bukar-Sadong, Biatah, Singai-Jagoi, and Selako dialects to separate the sub-groups; so much so that they tend to speak with each other in Malay, English, or whatever language happens to be handy.
This explains why English and/or Malay is often used as the medium of communication during most Bidayuh gatherings that involve individuals from the different sub-groups.
I’ve met many fellow Sarawakians, not to mention Malayans, who got surprised when I told them that I often had to converse either in Malay or English with other Bidayuh. Either that or we would end up like ducks trying to speak to chickens.
In that sense, we are a bit like the Chinese who have many sub-groups such as the Foochow, Hokkien, Hakka, and so on. However, unlike the Chinese, the Bidayuh do not have an accepted common language like Mandarin.
In a way, this is also good for the community, as it would mean that the members have to either learn or at least understand each other’s dialects, failing which they must either use English or Malay or, better still, use both.
Personally, I prefer that the Bidayuh continue to adopt either English and/or Malay as the lingua-franca for inter-dialect communication while embracing this linguistic diversity.
This will indirectly ensure the continuation of the Bidayuhs’ vibrant identity for generations to come, as they celebrate their roots and contribute to the multicultural tapestry of Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole.
As a matter-of-fact, the linguistic diversity within the Bidayuh community plays a vital role in preserving their cultural identity in that it reflects the historical and geographical influences that have shaped the Bidayuh people over the years.
By embracing and celebrating these linguistic variations, the Bidayuh community ensures the preservation of their heritage and fosters a sense of pride and belonging among its members.
Their distinct dialects, including traditions and ancestral beliefs have been nurtured over centuries and are intricately woven into the fabric of their linguistic variations and sub-ethnic groups.
Each Bidayuh dialect represents a distinct linguistic variation shaped by geographical locations and historical influences. The most prominent ones are Biatah, Jagoi, Singgai, Selako, Bukar and Sadong, to name a few. These dialects are further divided into sub-dialects, emphasising the diverse cultural fabric of the Bidayuh people.
The Biatah dialect is widely spoken by Bidayuhs residing in the Padawan-Penrissen area. At one time it was even regarded as the most common dialect among the Bidayuh community and was used as a lingua franca for inter-dialect communication. Its popularity has however somehow diminished over the years. Then the Biatah dialect bored historical significance as it acted as a unifying factor for Bidayuhs from different sub-ethnic groups.
The Jagoi and Singgai dialects are prevalent in Bau while the Selako dialect is predominantly spoken in Lundu.
Due to this diversity, the Bidayuh has a tapestry of greetings for Gawai celebration — a thanksgiving and harvest festival celebrated yearly on June 1 and 2 by the Dayak (a collective name for the tribes of Bidayuh, Iban, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Lun Bawang and more) community in Sarawak.
To extend their warm wishes for a joyous celebration, each dialect and sub-ethnic group offers its unique way of greeting “Happy Gawai”, showcasing the cultural richness and heritage of the Bidayuh people.
The greetings come in different spellings and pronunciations. It can either be “Sramat Onu Gawia”, “Sramat Ndu Gawei”, or ”Sramat Ndu Gawai”, “Sramat Gawea”, etc.
In the olden days, Gawai held great significance for the Dayak community as it marks the end of the rice harvesting season and the beginning of a new agricultural cycle.
It was a time when families and friends came together to express gratitude to the gods and ancestors for the bountiful harvest and seek blessings for the year ahead.
Gawai was also an occasion for cultural performances, traditional games and feasting.
Today, as many of the Dayaks have embraced Christianity, the Gawai has undergone a transformation, blending indigenous customs with Christian beliefs and practices.
The Christian faith has brought new dimensions to the festivities, integrating biblical teachings, prayers, hymns, and thanksgiving to God into the traditional Gawai rituals. Today, especially in villages where most if not all villagers have embraced Christianity, the focus has shifted from ancestral spirits to acknowledging God’s role in the harvest and expressing thankfulness for His provisions.
Nonetheless, Gawai still serves as a time of unity, gratitude, and celebration of the harvest season. It remains a festival that brings together family, friends, and communities where it serves as a unifying force, fostering a sense of togetherness and strengthening the social fabric of Dayak society in general.
During Gawai, people from various backgrounds and generations gather to celebrate, share meals, exchange stories, and engage in traditional activities. It is also a time to renew bonds, reconcile differences and reinforce the collective identity of the Dayak community.
Since Gawai is round the corner, I would like to take this opportunity to wish fellow Bidayuhs, fellow Dayaks and all who are celebrating, wherever you are and irrespective of your racial or sub-ethnic groups, “Sramat Onu Gawia”, “Sramat Ndu Gawai”, “Sramat Ndu Gawei”, ‘Sramat Gawea”, “Selamat Hari Gawai”, “Selamat Ari Gawai” and “Happy Gawai” 2023.
May this exchange of greetings continue to bring our communities together and may this festive occasion serve as a reminder of the community’s unity, diversity, shared joy and cultural tapestry.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
