Kayan Longhouse: Uma Aru | Kayan Ethnography with Mantan Temenggong Pahang Deng

Описание: In this video, Mantan Temenggong Pahang Deng describes the Kayan Traditional Longhouse (uma aru), the heart of Kayan communal life in Borneo.

Structure: Built on stilts from durable hardwood such as belian (ironwood), a longhouse may extend over 100 meters, depending on the number of families it shelters.

Private Units (amin): Each family occupies its own apartment, or amin, arranged side by side along the structure.

Common Area (awa): A long open verandah, the awa, runs the full length of the longhouse. It is a vibrant shared space for weaving, food preparation, daily work, social interaction, and communal gatherings.

Chief’s Verandah (awa aya’): The longhouse head, usually from the aristocratic maren uma group, presides over the awa aya’. This is where important decisions are made, guests are received, and ceremonies are held.

The uma aru embodies communal living, built on cooperation, mutual respect, and shared responsibilities. It is also where oral traditions, rituals, and cultural practices—such as tekna’ (oral histories)—are passed down through generations. Weddings, funerals, and festivals are celebrated in its communal spaces, with guidance from elders or the ketua kaum (longhouse chief), who uphold the community’s moral and social values.

This presentation is part of the Kayan Ethnographic Dictionary Project, which is dedicated to documenting and safeguarding the Kayan language, oral traditions, and cultural heritage for future generations.