# Ngajat

Ngajat is popular family of dances among the Iban people in Sarawak, Malaysia. It's also popular in Brunei and West Kalimantan, Indonesia. In 2007, Ngajat was recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage in Malaysia by Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage.

## History

The history of Ngajat dance begins with the ancestors of the Iban community following the movements of the common hill myna and the great argus. According to an oral interview with an Iban people from Lubuk Antu, Sarawak, the ancestors of the Iban community dreamed of coming to a remote village. There, they looked for a place to grow rice, a place to hunt and they came across the footprints of a common hill myna. When they saw the footprints, the movement seemed to be a Ngajat dance that made them follow the movement.
While dancing, they looked up the mountain, and saw a great argus. The great argus flapped and spread its wings as if it were a human hand. They also followed it's movements. And as a result of the movement of the two movements, "Bungai Ajat" or "Bunga Ajat" was created. That's why, when the Iban people dance and playing music, the common hill myna will also move its legs while the great argus will move its wings.
It is not known when the dance came up but it is strongly believed to be associated with the Iban ethnic group since the 16th century.

## Types

Ngajat consists of several types, including:
* Ngajat Serakup [nga-jat se-ra-kup]: Standardized version of Ngajat for stage performance Malaysian school lesson. It was made by the Dayak Iban Assocation from Sarawak to unite Sarawak Iban through arts and dance. Standardized version of Ngajat was believed originated from the early 80s and was modernised in the late 90s. Nowadays, Ngajat Serakup is widely used as performance in Sarawak, Malaysia. Some of the Ibans in Brunei and West Kalimantan also use the steps in Ngajat Serakup from Sarawak because of it uniqueness, complexity and elegance.
* Ngajat Indu [nga-jat in-duq]
* Ngajat Bebunuh [nga-jat bē-bu-nuēh]: Presented by the young men of the community, this dance is a replication or repetition of what men do when confronted by enemies or as they engage in daily activities such as hunting.
* Ngajat Lesung [nga-jat lē-suēng] : illustrates the manifestation of power and masculinity in Iban males. This traditional practice highlights a warrior showcasing his strength by lifting a wooden rice mortar weight around 20 kilograms (lesung kayu) with his teeth during a dance, and concludes with the meticulous placement of the mortar on the floor, culminating in a swift heel touch on the stage.
* Ngajat Semain [nga-jat sē-ma-yiēn]
* Ngajat Berayah [nga-jat bē-ra-yæh]
* Ngajat Pua Kumbu [nga-jat pu-waq kum-bouq]: Usually performed by women. As this dance is called Pua kumbu, the dancers would dance while carrying Pua kumbu (Iban floral fabric) as a tool in their performance. This dance is usually performed during Gawai Kelingkang. During Gawai Kelingkang, celebrated to prepare or mark the success of the notorious Ngayau (headhunting), a parade of warriors carrying the head of an enemy approaching the longhouse would be greeted by dancers. The head heroine of the Kelingkang would then put the 'nutmeg' in the comb. With a shout of victory and the sound of a bat, the Pua kumbu dancers lead the procession towards the 'tanju' (outer platform of the longhouse), swinging a crocodile that contains the enemy's head in the back while calling for protection from the captive spirit. Before the parade of maidens reaches the stage of the ceremony, a pig will be offered to the ancestors. The pua kumbu dancers will then continue to swing the enemy's head, followed by the warrior. After seven rounds, the head will be hung on a tree. Today, the enemy's head is replaced with a coconut as a symbol.
* Ngajat Muka Kuta [nga-jat mu-kaq ku-ta]: Ngajat kuta is another type of dance performance that combines male and female dancers. It is usually performed for celebrations such as the opening of Iban cultural events.
* Ngajat Ngalu Temuai [nga-jat nga-lu tē-mu-way] : Presented for the purpose of welcoming special guests. Usually this dance is performed during the opening of an official ceremony attended by many honoured guests and the public. The dance is performed while accompanying guests to the leader of the longhouse. This dance is a welcome for guests who come to the long house during Gawai or during other festivals.
* Ngajat Mai Antu Pala [nga-jat ma-yiq an-tu pa-laq] : Ngajat for those Iban is a welcome dance during Gawai Day, before the war and after the harvest season. In the old days the dance was performed after their return from the war. Dancers stand on the circle and jump accompanied by the music. For Gawai Sandau Ari, a drum is played for the guests of honour. In a variant, the dancer holds a wooden shield in his left hand and a sword in his right hand and dances facing the enemy with his body swinging to the left and to the right.

## Musical equipment

Musical instruments include large and medium gongs (tawak and bebendai), drums or ketebung/dumba and a set of small gongs engkurumong. Belikan is another string instrument used to perform ngajat dance.

## World Records

In 2013, Ngajat Dance was represented in Cheonan World Dance Festival, with the Malaysia Team under UTP Performing Arts Group.
In 2023, Ngajat Dance was represented in Cheonan World Dance Festival once again, with the Malaysia Team under UTP Performing Arts Group winning Gold Prizes.
In 2024, Ngajat Dance was represented in Cheonan World Dance Festival once again, with the Malaysian Team under UTP Performing Arts Group winning Silver Prizes. Dion Das Louis, an eight years old dancer from Sarawak representing Malaysia winning a Gold Prize by bringing Ngajat Dance 2024 World Performing Arts Championships in California, United States.

## Clothing

Male dancers wear traditional costumes like 'mesh', 'Gagung' or bird clothes. Gagung is a kind of thick and hard armour made of animal skin such as bear, but not stitched on the sides. Dancers also wear hats decorated with feathers.
Female dancers dubbed "Kumang", they wear clothes such as a headdress, hooks high on the chest, cloth tied at the waist, hands and feet bracelets and earrings.