Murut people

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Murut people
Murut in traditional attire in Mari Mari Cultural Village, Sabah
Total population
150,000
Regions with significant populations
 Malaysia
Sabah including Labuan: 106,484 (2020)[1]
Sarawak: 9,500 (1980)[2]
 
Nunukan, North Kalimantan: 57 513 (2015), East Kalimantan
 
Austronesian peoples

The Murut are an indigenous

ethnic group, comprising 29 sub-ethnic groups inhabiting the northern inland regions of Borneo
. The Murutic languages are a family of half a dozen closely related Austronesian languages. The Murut can be found mainly in Sabah, but also in Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Etymology

The literal translation of murut is "

better source needed
]

Demographics

Percentage population of Murut by state constituencies in Sabah, according to 2020 census

A large percentage of the Murut communities are in the southwest interior of Sabah, East Malaysia, specifically the districts of Keningau, Tenom, Nabawan,Labuan and Beaufort along the Sapulut and Padas rivers. They can also be found inhabiting the border areas of Sarawak, (especially around the Lawas and Limbang areas, where they are also referred to as Tagal people), North Kalimantan (traditionally concentrated in Malinau Regency and Nunukan Regency), and Brunei.

The Murut population in

Bumiputera
in Brunei.

The Murut in Brunei and Sarawak (Southern Murut) is ethnically and linguistically different from Murut in Sabah (Northern Murut). In Sarawak, the confusing term "Murut" is hence replaced with the term "Lun Bawang", while this has not taken place in Brunei.[5] The Northern Murut is more commonly termed "Tagol" or "Tagal" in Brunei and Sarawak.

The Murut are divided between lowland (Timugon) and highland (Tagol) subgroups. They speak the

Tagol Murut language serves as their lingua franca
.

Customs and religion

The Tahol Murut Cultural Center in Desa Libang, Lumbis, Nunukan, North Kalimantan, Indonesia
Religions of Muruts (Malaysians only)[1]
Religion Percent
Christianity
 
 80.19%
Islam
 
 18.04%
Folk religion / Other religions
 
 0.21%
No religion / Unknown
 
 1.56%

The Murut were the last of Sabah's ethnic groups to renounce headhunting. As with the Iban of Sarawak, collecting heads of enemies traditionally served a very important role in Murut spiritual beliefs. For example, a man could only get married after he presented at least one head to the family of the desired girl.

The Murut were shifting cultivators of hill padi and tapioca, supplementing their diet with blowpipe hunting and with some fishing. They live in communal longhouses, usually near rivers, using the rivers as their highways. Most have now converted to Christianity, with about a fifth of the population being Muslims. However, they still maintain their culture.

Traditional dress for men was a jacket made of tree bark (

Argus pheasant feathers. Women wore a black sleeveless blouse and sarong, which fell just below the knees. Like most of the other indigenous groups in Sabah, the Murut decorated their clothing with distinctive beadwork and also made belts out of old silver
coins. Another belt made of reddish-brown glass beads plus yellow and blue beads was hung loosely around the waist.

Murut wedding or funeral feasts can last several days. Ancient Chinese jars hold a prominent status in Murut customs. Jars are also a place of spirits, and larger jars were formerly used as coffins.

Musical heritage

Main article: Agung

The Murut have a musical heritage consisting of various types of agung ensembles – ensembles composed of large hanging, suspended or held, bossed/knobbed gongs which act as a drone without any accompanying melodic instrument.[6][7]

Murut also used bamboo as a musical instrument, by using bamboo to compose songs. Some musical instrument like tangkung (similar to that of a guitar, except it has only two strings) is made from wood. Tangkung is usually played during their leisure time.

Ontoros Antanom/Antanum

Main article: Antanum

Antanum was a famous and influential Murut warrior from Sabah who according to local oral history claimed to have supernatural powers. Because of this, he was able to receive support from the chiefs and villagers from around Keningau, Tenom, Pensiangan, and

British North Borneo Company but was killed during fighting with the company army in Sungai Selangit near Pensiangan.[8]

Sub-ethnic groups

Languages of Kalimantan, with the Murut sub-dialects are being labelled as Tagal (36), Sembakong (38), Selungai (35), Okolod (36) and Tidung (59)
Traditional Murut longhouse in Penampang, Sabah, Malaysia

The Murut people are divided into three linguistic groups, namely:-

Notable figures

References

  1. ^ a b "2010 Population and Housing Census of Malaysia" (PDF) (in Malay and English). Department of Statistics, Malaysia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012. p. 107
  2. ISBN 0-2959-7416-8
    .
  3. ^ "East-Kalimantan 48 Tribes". IndonesiaTraveling.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Brunei: The Abode of Peace". Archived from the original on 9 November 2000. Retrieved 20 April 2007.
  5. ISBN 9781317659983
    . Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  6. ^ Mercurio, Philip Dominguez (2006). "Traditional Music of the Southern Philippines". PnoyAndTheCity: A center for Kulintang – A home for Pasikings. Retrieved 25 February 2006.
  7. ^ Matusky, Patricia. "An Introduction to the Major Instruments and Forms of Traditional Malay Music." Asian Music Vol 16. No. 2. (Spring-Summer 1985), pp. 121–182.
  8. ISBN 9789812308122
    .
  9. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "John Daukom Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
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