ARTS AND CULTURE INFORMATION GATEWAY
Immerse yourself in the colorful world of art and culture! From traditional heritage to contemporary works, discover uniqueness that reflects the nation's identity and identity
TARIAN ULE NUGAN
Picture
1
Video
No record
Today's Visitor
7
Number of Visitors
95
Introduction and history
The Tarian Ule Nugan is inspired by the activities involved in rice planting among the Orang Ulu community in Sarawak. It is a routine for the Orang Ulu people to prepare early in the morning before embarking on a journey by boat to their rice fields. Thus, male dancers in this performance usually carry a piece of wood resembling a penugal stick, commonly used for planting rice in highland areas.
During the rice planting process, while the men use the penugal stick, the women would strike the kerebo bulo, creating rhythmic sounds to ward off bad omens associated with certain bird calls. According to Orang Ulu legends, the sound produced by the kerebo bulo also serves to encourage and inspire the rice’s spirit to grow healthily and yield a good harvest. Beliefs, omens, and signs hold significant meaning in their daily lives as an agrarian society.
Throughout the rice planting process, the Orang Ulu community helps one another with the task while socializing and sharing laughter to alleviate the exhaustion of work. The men also engage in hunting using blowpipes to gather food to bring back home. With all the daily activities of rice planting carried out successfully, the Orang Ulu farmers return home filled with joy and gratitude.
-
-
-
In the Tarian Ule Nugan, all the activities, hard work, and joy experienced while working in the rice fields are expressed through the dance movements and formations. Moreover, the belief system of the Orang Ulu plays a significant role in shaping their way of life. To avoid misfortune, often associated with hearing certain bird calls as omens, the farmers dance to the rhythm of the kerebo bulo or bamboo slats. The music produced by the bamboo slats is believed to encourage the spirit of the rice to thrive and yield a good harvest.
The use of rattan baskets and traditional headgear as key props in this dance reflects the activities of Orang Ulu women in the afternoons after a day’s work in the fields or rice plots. During this time, they often create handicrafts such as rattan mats, bags, traditional headgear, and beadwork.
-
Reference Source
i. https://www.instagram.com/kustari_borneo/reel/CsxNP2sAKFi/
ii. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1171915162953314&set=a.1171914382953392
Location
State JKKN Contact Information
Encik Boniface Anak Babai
Cultural Officer
Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara, Sarawak
Tingkat 5 Bangunan Sultan Iskandar,
Jalan Simpang Tiga,
93000, Kuching,
SARAWAK
019-2399682/082-422006
Use the form below to contact the Informant/Figure/Editor/Researcher directly. We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible!
