page_title: Iban people
section_title: Ibanic Dayak regional groups
hierarchical_section_title: Iban people / Ibanic Dayak regional groups
caption_attribution_description: Sarawak: Sea Dayaks with weapons and head-dresses. Photograph. Iconographic Collections Keywords: Tribe; Population Groups; Borneo; Tribal; Charles Hose; saraksethnology - malaysia; dayak (indonesian people); Anthropology; Malaysia; Ethnography; tribes; platinum photoprints
context_page_description: The Ibans or Sea Dayaks are a branch of the Dayak peoples of Borneo, in South East Asia. Most Ibans are located in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is believed that the term "Iban" was originally an exonym used by the Kayans, who - when they initially came into contact with them - referred to the Sea Dayaks in the upper Rajang river region as the "Hivan".
  Ibans were renowned for practicing headhunting and territorial migration, and had a fearsome reputation as a strong and successful warring tribe. Since the arrival of Europeans and the subsequent colonisation of the area, headhunting gradually faded out of practice, although many other tribal customs and practices as well as the Iban language continue to thrive. The Iban population is concentrated in Sarawak, Brunei, and in the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan. They traditionally live in longhouses called rumah panjai or betang in West Kalimantan.
context_section_description: Although Ibans generally speak various dialects which are mutually intelligible, they can be divided into different branches which are named after the geographical areas where they reside.
  The majority of Ibans who live around the Lundu and Samarahan region are called Sebuyaus.
  Ibans who settled in the Serian district (places like Kampung Lebor, Kampung Tanah Mawang and others) are called Remuns. They may be the earliest Iban group to migrate to Sarawak.
  Ibans who originated from Sri Aman area are called Balaus.
  Ibans who come from Betong, Saratok and parts of Sarikei are called Saribas'.
  The original Iban, Lubok Antu Ibans, are classed by anthropologists as Ulu Ai/batang ai Ibans.
  Ibans from Undup are called Undup Ibans. Their dialect is a cross between the Ulu Ai and the Balau dialects.
  Ibans living in areas from Sarikei to Miri are called Rajang Ibans. This group is also known as Bilak Sedik Iban. They are the majority group of the Iban people. They can be found along: the Rajang River, Sibu, Kapit, Belaga, Kanowit, Song, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri. Their dialect is somewhat similar to the Ulu Ai or Lubok Antu dialect.
  In West Kalimantan (Indonesia), Iban people are even more diverse. The Kantu, Air Tabun, Semberuang, Sebaru, Bugau, Mualang, and many other groups are classed as Ibanic people by anthropologists. They can be related to the Iban either by dialect cultural customs or rituals.
caption: Iban men complete with traditional attire, spears, Ilang and Klebit Bok.
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