The Iban people

  In Sarawak, there is a people called the Iban. They are the largest people group in Sarawak and are one of the main indigenous people groups in Brunei. 

  They live in longhouses called Rumah Panjai. Some have now abandoned the longhouse style of living. However, many still maintain ties to their ancestral longhouses.

  Farming is the main occupation of the Iban community, but not many are self-sufficient as they must buy additional food to supplement what they grow. Some still hunt wild animals in the jungle. 

  The Iban are traditionally animists (the belief in the existence of individual spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena), although the majority are now Christian, many continue to observe both Christian and traditional ceremonies, particularly during marriages or festivals. Many still hold strongly to their traditional rituals and beliefs, many of which integrate closely with rice planting and harvesting. 

 Significant festivals include the rice harvesting festival Gawai Dayak, the main festival for the Ibans. Other festivals include the bird festival Gawai Burong and the spirit festival Gawai Antu.

  For the majority of Ibans who are Christians, some Christian festivals such as Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, and other Christian festivals are also celebrated. Most Ibans are devout Christians and follow the Christian faith strictly.

  Despite the difference in faiths, Ibans of different faiths do help each other during Gawais and Christmas. Differences in faith is never a problem in the Iban community, the Ibans believe in helping and having fun together.