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Moris, a young musician of Dayak Kenyah Uma Lung heritage, plays on sape’ lute his interpretation of ‘Leto’. This is a traditional Dayak song from East and North Kalimantan about returning from war. It is commonly used as an accompaniment for the Kancet Leto dance.

Most strings on a sape’ are strummed to produce a drone, overlaid with a lyrical line played amongst the frets lining the lowest string. The repeating melodic motifs express the warrior’s strength, and the emotion of feeling moved – terharu – upon coming home.

‘Leto’ song

Instrumentation: sape' lute

Musician: Uyau Moris

LINDUNG textile

pola motif LINDUNG.jpg

This contemporary piece was crafted as part of a Dayak weaving revival project in West Kalimantan run by the cooperative Jasa Menenun Mandiri (Weavers Go Independent). Dayaks are the Indigenous peoples of Indonesian and Malaysian Borneo.

The motif is called tiang bekurung. It refers to the main supporting poles used in the construction of longhouses traditionally occupied by dozens of families. Most Dayaks reside in single-family homes today.

This motif relates the message that, back in the time of the weaver’s ancestors, houses had to be built strong enough to protect the spirits of animals, humans and the possessions necessary for their survival.

Shoulder cloth, tenun ikat (cotton), Umin village, Sintang District, West Kalimantan

Maker: Mini Yulia

Kindly lent by Kadar and Anton Lucas

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