IBAN SECTION

The number of titles for each genre is indicated at the end of the description of the genre.

•        Jerita tuai  --stories of ancient times, myths and  legends (358 titles).

•        Tusut  --genealogy, family tree (23 titles).

•        Sampi  --1) prayer which may comprise a few words  said to acknowledge an

         omen, or a poem lasting an hour or more; 2) oratory,  rhetoric (approx.    

         50 titles).

•        Pengap  --invocation to deities sung at major  rites (78 titles).

•        Timang  --songs of praise; invocation poem (20  titles).

•        Ensera  --epics or sagas sung in poetic language  with explanations and  

         conversations in  prose; any tale told partly in poetic form  as opp. to

         simple prose tale (99 titles).

•        Renong  --1)  narrative sung to embolden men going  to  war; 2) song of

         entertainment sung at  the  commencement of a long  journey, bejalai (17 

         titles).

•        Pantun --1)  (pantun jako) adage, saying, parable,  simile; 2) impromptu   

         song for  entertainment  (17 titles).

•        Sabak  --poem of lament for the dead or  lamentation  for the dead (6

         titles).

•        Biau  --ceremonial waving of a fowl (usually a   cockerel) over the heads of

         guests etc  accompanied by recitation of a sampi.  See  also sampi (6

         titles).

•        Ramban  --love song in poetic from (1 title).

•        Pelian  --general term for rites for the sick or  healing rituals for the sick

         performed by  a manang (shaman) (41 titles).

•        Entelah  --word puzzle; riddle (1 title).

•        Sugi  --epics associated with deities (10 titles).

•        Pengarap tuai  --traditional belief system (32  titles).

 

BIDAYUH SECTION 

•        Dundan (Biatah, Bau), tanun (Bukar-Sadong)      --ancient stories, myths,

         legends, fables  told in poetic and plain language (148  titles).

•        Girutu (BS) --children stories (97 titles).

•        Bajo (BS)  --1) entertainment epic song in the  form  of stories sung by

         singers acting the  role  of  the heroes conversing with one  another; 2) also

         praise song usually sung  at  non-religious ritual ceremonies (30  titles).

•        Sigumbang --poetic love song sung for  entertainment while working as a

         group in  the farm (5 titles).

•        Sirandau  --poetic song sung in praise of  the exploits of warriors (10 titles).

•        Brayun (BS) --also entertainment epic song in  the form of story sung at

         non-religious  ritual ceremonies (8 titles).

•        Munih (BS) --song of praise for entertainment  (12 titles).

•        Sengi (BT) --stories about Bidayuh origin and  genealogy (5 titles).

•        Samun --song in praise of personalities,  development and events (6

         titles).

•        Barih  --prayers, ritual songs sung by priestess  at ritual healing (48 titles).

•        Barih sumpon  --honey collecting song to placate  the bees from stinging (9

         titles).

•        Sampi --chants, prayers, invocations, at ritual  ceremonies (65 titles).

•        Bimanuk  --traditional practice based on augury,  omen, divination etc (62

         titles).

 

ORANG ULU SECTION

Bisaya

•         ceremony –1 title  

•         festival

 

Kenyah

•        Tekena’ or suket   --different types of  folk-lore (8  titles).

•        Belian   --general term for songs; for  entertainment and also in praise of 

         personalities (20 titles).

•        Patapan/Kelure   --stories that talk about  events,  personalities, migration

         etc (2  titles).

•        Keniruk    --long epic song about creation,  folk heroes sung over a period of

         a few  nights (1 title). Tekna’ (Kayan) --long epic song about folk  heroes,

        sung over a period of a few  nights (1 title in 15 inno. 60 min.  tapes).

 

Kayan

•        Lung   --different types of folk-lore (25  titles).

•        Peleken   --chants (us. of sacred text) or  songs in poetic form (1 title in 3

         inno.  60  min. tapes).

•        Parap   --welcoming songs, composed  impromptu by individuals in poetic 

        form  to distinguished guests (20 titles).

 

Kelabit

•        Adih   --long epic about folk hero Agan  Tadun, sung over a period of a few

         nights.   Other Kelabit epic songs not in Majlis  archive are sedadai about

         hero Balang  Lipang and sedarir about hero Tukad Rini   (1 title).

•        Sekunuh   --different types folk-lore (1  title).

•        Lakuh   --short epic about deeds of women,  normally sung by women (2

         titles).

•        Ulin   --love song in poetic form composed  impromptu (1 title).

 

Lun Bawang

•        Laba’   --different types of folk- lore  (15 titles).

•        Mumuh   --long epic about folk hero.  Another  type is arin (2 titles).

•        Dadai   --1) the song of Upai Semaring, long  epic about folk hero Upai

        Semaring (only  short  version available). 2) Also short   version epics about

        Tuked Rini, Tuk  Sagan’ (3 titles).

•        Nawar ada’   --spirit chants associated with  harvesting season and house

         building (3  titles).

•        Nawar mangaie’   --calling for omen bird (1  title).

 

Penan

•        Suket  --varieties of folk-lore, both  in poetic and in plan language (25 

         titles).

•        Tivai  --prayers, chants, short or  long, poetic or in plain language (30 

         titles).

•        Sinui --song in poetic form composed  impromptu expressing feelings of

         love,  happiness,  loneliness, sadness, in  praise  of the environment, an

         event, a  journey etc (5 titles)

 

Tatau

 

Bagatan

 

MELANAU SECTION

●         Folk Stories--25 titles

●         Legend--2 titles

●         Belief --1 title

●         Healing  --1 title