Local Culture

For millennia the indigenous ”Sungai” people of the Lower Kinabatangan had lived off the rainforest for food, medicine, household commodities and products of trade.   When the British arrived they named the people “Orang Sungai” meaning “People of the River”, and this is the name by which they now call themselves.  Islam came to Borneo around 16th century and so the community here is Muslim.  The world of the Orang Sungai changed dramatically in the 1960's , with the advent of mechanised extraction of the forest’s timber resources. Even though they were forced into the modern world and away from their ancestral activities, they have kept some of their culture intact.  The community likes to share some of this culture with you and you are likely to see a demonstration of their dancing and martial arts which is lively and colourful. Traditional musical instruments accompany the dancing (tarian kebudayaan) and the martial arts (silat) segments and you may be given the chance to try out your dancing and musical skills, on the gongs (agup tungal), kuling tangan, drum (tambur), bandil and the xylophone (gabang). 

The people are very friendly and eager to meet you and improve their language skills but please be aware that there are certain behaviours that can cause offence – women need to keep their shoulders and knees covered at all times and only use your right hand for  eating. Women must also sit in certain ways on the floor when in the company of men;  please ask your homestay hostess to guide you.  Alcohol is totally forbidden.