Publications

Category: English

Tun Jugah of Sarawak: Iban Colonialism in Sarawak. (1992) By Vinson H. Sutlive. Published by Sarawak Literary Society. Paperback, 357 p.
This biography traces the life and times of Tun Jugah of Sarawak and the Iban response to colonialism and independence. Tun Jugah was both a force and an inspiration during the early years of the Federation. A man of great honour and vision, and an astute politician, he helped shape the destiny of his people, state and country, giving his wholehearted support to the concept of Malaysia and bridging the gap between the East and West Malaysians.

 

Handy Reference Dictionary of Iban and English. (1994) By Vinson Sutlive and Joanne Sutlive. Published by The Jugah Foundation. Hard cover, 925 p.
Includes most common Iban words with English equivalents and or explanations. Also includes most common and many scientific English words with Iban equivalents and or explanations. With an introduction of 60 pages, 925 pages with almost 50,000 entries. 13,000 Iban-English and 36,000 English-Iban. An indespensable tool for government personnel, businessmen, linguists, academicians, every student from primary to university, every library and home use.

 

Ties That Bind: Iban Ikat Weaving, 2nd ed. (2001) By Datin Amar Margaret Linggi. Published by The Tun Jugah Foundation. Paperback, 170 p.
An overview of Iban ikat weaving with a comprehensive description. In this book, the author traces the intricate procedures and rituals of weavers who produce the world-famous Iban ikat fabrics. Text is accompanied by color photographs of each step of the process, and a step-by-step account of weaving. One of the most extensive studied pre-state societies, the Ibans have created an elaborate body of woven fabrics with a sophisticated knowledge of plants and their chemical properties, preparation of cotton threads to absorb natural dyes, and the use of the backstrap loom. Contains 70 color photographs of fabrics displayed at the Muscarelle Museum of Art of The College of William and Mary, Virginia, USA, from July 11 to August 16, 1998.

 

The Encyclopedia of Iban Studies, Vols. 1-4. (2001) Published by The Tun Jugah Foundation. Hard cover (bonded leather), 2783 p.
A four-volume work of more than 2,000 pages, with articles from 40 Contributing Editors, with wrap-around binding. Contains more than 4,000 entries, with articles on Basketry, Bee trees, Birth, Botany, Burials, Brookes and the Iban, Colonialism, Contributions to Anthropological Theory, Development, Death, Expeditions, Farming, Festivals, Headhunting, Illnesses, Language, Logic, Malaysia, Material culture, Rituals, Shamanism, and Weaving.

 

Seeds of Play, Words of Power: An Ethnographic Study of Iban Shamanic Chants. (2001) By Clifford Sather. Published by The Tun Jugah Foundation and the Borneo Research Council. Hard back and Paperback, 753 p.
Based on research begun in 1975, this publication is an extended ethnographic study of Iban shamanic songs and their role in the practice of traditional Iban healing. Called leka pelian, these songs constitute the gist (leka) of rituals known as pelian, which are performed by Iban manang or shamans, and intended, among other things, to recover errant souls, erect protective spirit barriers, slay spirits, or effect a proper separation between the living and the dead.

Category: Iban

Leka Timang. (1997) Compiled by Robert Menua Saleh. Published by The Tun Jugah Foundation, Kuching. Paperback, 617 p.
Contains full texts of varieties of ritual incantations. Written in classical Iban. Timang is all about the invitations and arrivals of the principal spirit guests at major ritual festivals proper (Gawai Amat/Asal) and dream rituals (Gawai Mimpi) organized by the Iban who are still observing their traditional beliefs. Symbolically, the lemambang(bard), in his invocations, takes his fellow celebrants and listeners through spirit territory and eventually introduces the principal spirit guests to the festival. The spirit guests are invited to bless the proceedings and to bring benefits on all concerned, conferring charms for so many purposes.

 

Pantun Iban: Volume 2. (1998) Compiled by Robert Menua Saleh. Published by The Tun Jugah Foundation. Paperback, 157 p.
Written in classical Iban. Contains an anthology of selected pantun, songs of Iban tropes. The Iban use trobes to express their feelings of sadness and happiness, hatred and admiration, curse and compliment, and to channel their requests for favour, needs and wants. These are elements of a serious pantun. However, some pantun are just entertainment,usually carrying romantic messages. This book offers both. Pantun is worth learning and understanding, especially if you wish to be sung to and offered a glass of rice wine.

 

Sabak. (2000) Compiled by Robert Menua Saleh. Published by The Tun Jugah Foundation. Paperback, 218 p.
Written in classical Iban language. Contains full texts of major varieties of Iban dirge, Sabak Bangkai and Sabak Lumbung, commonly used in Kapit and Sibu Divisions of Sarawak. Sabak is a dirge. It is a poem of ament for the dead, narrating the journey of his/her soul from the land of the living and the dead called Sebayan. In this book, professional singers of the dirge will be taking the readers, together with the soul of the deceased, along the journey between these two worlds, passing by the various dwellings of forest and abodes of the sacred birds and animals, etc.

 

Sampi and Biau. (2001) Compiled by Robert Menua Saleh and Janang Ensiring. Published by The Tun Jugah Foundation. Paperback, 382 p.
This book is an anthology of sampi and biau. The anthology is made up of 22 sampi and 29 biau, specially selected from the so many sampi and biau recited by the prominent bards during a sampi and biau workshop held in Saratok on 16th and 17th February 1997. Being the first of its kind, the book describes fully well what sampi and biau are all about. People who are interested in reading and understanding sampi and biau (another major component of the Iban oral tradition), will find this book useful.

Renung Adat. (2001) Compiled by Robert Menua Saleh, Janang Ensiring and Walter Ted Wong. Published by The Tun Jugah Foundation. Paperback, 155 p.
Written in classical Iban. The book attempts to examine the various forms and texts of renung adat as they are sung in Sibu, Kapit and Betong Divisions of Sarawak, Malaysia. Renung Adat, a sacred chant, comprises of three categories in Sibu and Kapit Divisions, renung nama'ka tuah, renung ngalu petara, and renung sebayan. Renung Nama'ka Tuah is a song sung during numerous ritual festivals proper (Gawai Amat/Asal)and dream rituals (Gawai Mimpi) for welcoming possessions and riches brought into the family by deities through material manifestations of spiritual blessings. Renung Ngalu Antu is for inviting and welcoming deities and the spirits who will visit us during the riutal festivals. Renung Sebayan is sung during ritual festival for the deads (Ngelumbung). Its purpose is for inviting the spirits of the dead relatives to the feast whereby mourning regulations for the deceased's family are lifted. The spirits of the deads are expected to give charms for the well-beings of the surviving relatives such as for longevity, prosperity and happiness. Renung Adat Melah Pinang is used in Betong Division in the celebration of a wedding ceremony. Scholars of Iban culture must have a copy of this book in their custody, for it will also give them insights into aspects of rites relating to renung adat.

 

Renung Semain. (2001) Compiled by Janang Ensiring and Robert Menua Saleh. Published by The Tun Jugah Foundation. Paperback, 161 p.
Written in classical language of the Iban. It contains a full text of a song of romance, which is widely recited in Betong Division of Sarawak. The song is sung by a professional singer. It describes the intimacy between a pair of long-house youngsters who are in love. It speaks of their fulfilments and frustrations, their successes and failures, their triumphs and tribulations. But more importantly, the book attempts to inform readers about the various social courting etiquettes the young lovers have to adhere to in order to maintain their own integrity and that of their families. In order to know these etiquettes and other social norms governing passionate courtships in the Iban traditional community, readers will need this book to refer to.

 

Pelian. (2002) Compiled by Jantan Umbat and Janang Ensiring. Published by The Tun Jugah Foundation. Paperback, 382 p.
Contains a complete text of shamanic chants recited by a well-known and experienced Iban shaman, Manang Bangga anak Anggat of Debak, Betong, Sarawak. The book has information on the background and origins of Iban shamanism, including information on Iban's traditional beliefs. These traditional beliefs necessitate the practice of the traditional shamanic ceremony called the belian and the subsequent existence of the chants, the pelian. In this book, there are altogether 58 episodes of the wonderful chants. Each episode has its own synopsis bearing the purpose, proceeding and significance. All the episodes are full of poetically structured stanzas which normally end in neatly patterned rhymes. The chants are indeed a repertoire of the rich literature of the Iban language which subscribes to the effectiveness and mystery of the healing power of the shamanic practice.

 

Ripih Pengawa Gawai Antu. (2004) Compiled by Jantan Umbat and Janang Ensiring. Published by The Tun Jugah Foundation. Paperback, 203 p.
This book provides detailed descriptions of the proceedings of the Gawai Antu Festival, a traditional ritual considered to be the biggest and most expensive, held by Iban communities in the Upper Skrang, Layar, Paku, Rimbas, Krian, Sebelak and Upper Julau to give honour to the spirits of their deceased family members. The descriptions of the proceedings together with the full text of the timang jalung chant are substantiated by colourful illustrations making the book a useful reference for individuals who seek to know some in-depth significance of the festival.

 

Jaku’ Dalam. (2006) Compiled by Janang Ensiring and Robert Menua Saleh. Published by The Tun Jugah Foundation. Paperback, 394 p.
The Tun Jugah Foundation’s Jaku Dalam, contains approximately 9467 proverbs in use in the Iban language. Each of these proverbs is defined in clear Iban. This book has a number of unique features. Each proverb is defined in concise, contemporary language. Each proverb comes under any major word in it which is arranged in an alphabetical order. The clear typography an easy-to-read format makes looking up a proverb simple and fast. This book is an essential reference for anyone seeking to understand the meanings of proverbs in use in Iban society.

 

Adat Gawai. (2008) Compiled by Dr. Robert Menua Saleh and Walter Ted Wong.
Published by The Tun Jugah Foundation. Paperback, 260 p.
Written in standard Iban language, this book gives detailed proceedings and rites of Iban traditional festivals. It highlights various types of traditional festivals being celebrated by members of the Iban community, especially those living along the upper parts of Rajang river basin in Sarawak. With numerous pictures of the actual proceedings of traditional festivals, this book is useful fro scholars, researchers and ordinary readers who want to know more about Iban traditional festivals.

Ordering Information

Orders can be made directly to The Tun Jugah Foundation via telephone, fax or email to tjmus@myjaring.net