People of Borneo Island

The Kadazandusun, the largest ethnic group in Sabah, are deeply tied to the land. Known for their agricultural heritage, especially rice farming, they see Mount Kinabalu as a sacred resting place for ancestral spirits.

Their annual harvest festival, Pesta Kaamatan, is a vibrant celebration of gratitude and unity, featuring traditional dances, music, and the selection of the Unduk Ngadau (harvest festival queen).

Renowned as skillful horsemen and seafarers, the Bajau are divided into West Coast Bajau, known for equestrian prowess, and East Coast Bajau, recognized for maritime heritage.

Their colorful festivals, such as Regatta Lepa in Semporna, celebrate their deep connection to the ocean, featuring elaborately decorated traditional boats and water-based competitions.

Historically known as headhunters, the Murut now preserve their identity through music, dance, and craftsmanship. The Magunatip dance, performed with bamboo poles, showcases their agility and cultural pride.

Their traditional longhouses, built on sturdy stilts, symbolize community living and are often decorated with intricate carvings and skull trophies from their headhunting past.

Banjar traditional music reflects river life and Islamic heritage, featuring rhythmic gongs, drums, and poetic chants. It accompanies ceremonies, dances, and storytelling, preserving community identity, harmony, and cultural memory across generations.

The Lundayuh, found in the highlands of Sarawak and Sabah, are known for their agricultural skills and harmonious way of life. Their traditions emphasize community, respect for nature, and cultural resilience.

Celebrated for their bamboo band music and intricate beadwork, the Lundayuh maintain strong community bonds through collective farming practices and shared responsibilities in their highland villages.

The Iban, also called the "Sea Dayaks," are celebrated for their longhouses and intricate Pua Kumbu textiles. Their Gawai Dayak festival is a grand homage to the harvest season, filled with music, dance, and rituals.

Renowned for their warrior heritage, intricate tattoos, and spiritual connection to nature, the Iban maintain one of Borneo's most vibrant cultures. Their traditional knowledge of rainforest plants and animals is unparalleled among Borneo's indigenous groups.

The Penan, one of the last nomadic groups in Borneo, are renowned for their deep knowledge of the rainforest. Their way of life reflects sustainable living and harmony with nature.

Known for their blowpipe hunting skills and temporary shelters called "selap," the Penan practice rotational foraging that allows forest resources to regenerate naturally. Their concept of "molong" (forest stewardship) teaches sustainable harvesting and deep respect for the ecosystem.

The Dayak of Kalimantan, Indonesia, comprise sub-groups such as the Kenyah, Kayan, and Ngaju. Known for tattooing, woodcarving, and animistic beliefs, their Lamin longhouses symbolize communal harmony and spiritual connection.

With over 200 sub-groups across Indonesian Borneo, the Dayak people maintain diverse yet interconnected cultures. Their elaborate festivals like Gawai and Tiwah (secondary burial ceremony) demonstrate complex spiritual beliefs and community bonding.

The Butonese, from Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, are skilled seafarers. Many have settled in Sabah, bringing with them unique traditions and maritime expertise.

Butonese communities in Borneo maintain strong connections to their maritime roots through boat-building traditions, fishing techniques, and oral histories of sea voyages. Their settlement patterns typically follow coastal areas where they continue to practice traditional fishing methods.

The Manado people, from North Sulawesi, Indonesia, enrich Borneo with their culinary traditions and cultural practices.

Beyond their culinary contributions, the Manado community brings vibrant Christian traditions, distinct architectural styles, and a strong entrepreneurial spirit to Borneo. Their migration patterns often follow trade routes established during the colonial era.

The Toraja, originally from Sulawesi, are renowned for elaborate funeral rituals and unique architecture. Their presence adds depth to Borneo's cultural richness.

Toraja funeral ceremonies, among the world's most elaborate, can last for days and involve intricate rituals, traditional dances, and buffalo sacrifices. In Borneo, Toraja communities maintain these traditions while adapting to their new environment, creating a unique cultural synthesis.

The Timorese community, many of whom work in oil palm plantations, play a crucial role in Borneo's agricultural sector.

Coming from both Indonesian Timor and Timor-Leste, these communities bring resilience honed in semi-arid environments to Borneo's tropical agriculture. Their integration into plantation economies represents one of Southeast Asia's significant labor migration patterns of the 20th century.

Immigrants from the Philippines, including Kababayan and Visaya groups, have brought vibrant traditions in music, dance, and cuisine, enriching Borneo's multicultural landscape.

With migration waves spanning from the colonial era to modern labor movements, Filipino communities have established vibrant enclaves across Borneo. Visaya speakers particularly dominate certain sectors like retail and services, while maintaining strong transnational family networks.

Originating from Southeast Sulawesi, the Wakatobi people are skilled fishermen and sailors, contributing to Borneo's coastal communities.

Named after their island chain (Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko), these communities bring exceptional free-diving abilities and sustainable fishing techniques to Borneo. Their traditional "phinisi" sailboats are engineering marvels built without blueprints.

The Iranun, originally from Mindanao, Philippines, are known for their warrior and seafaring past. The Arab community, with a legacy of trade, has influenced Islamic traditions, architecture, and cuisine across Borneo.

The Pakistani community, many of whom are nationalized Malaysians, have contributed to trade, textiles, and jewelry industries in Borneo.

Primarily from Punjab and Sindh provinces, Pakistani migrants arrived during British colonial administration and post-independence periods. They established extensive trading networks specializing in textiles, spices, and electronics, while maintaining strong connections to their South Asian heritage.

The Bolongan and Tidung people, minorities in Tawau, add to the region's ethnic mosaic with their traditions and close-knit communities.

Migrating from the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Orang Cocos settled in Tawau and Lahad Datu. Their culture blends Malay and Cocos Island traditions, reflected in language, music, and daily life.

Their migration to Borneo in the 1950s created a unique diaspora community that maintains distinctive traditions like "main puteri" healing rituals, coconut-based cuisine, and the "joget Cocos" dance. Despite being one of Borneo's smallest communities, they've preserved their unique Creole language called "Cocos Malay."

Originating from Sulawesi, the Bugis are known for their maritime skills and adaptability. In Sabah, they contribute to agriculture and trade, while preserving their dances and cultural practices.

Bugis migration to Borneo dates to the 17th century when they established trading posts and settlements along the coast. Their warrior tradition, combined with entrepreneurial skills, allowed them to integrate into local power structures while maintaining distinct cultural identity.