KUCHING: The Iban community of Rumah Gensurai in Betong marked the return of ‘Gawai Antu’, one of the most sacred and elaborate Iban festivals, with a grand ceremony on December 22, 2018, after a seven-year hiatus.
That event is now fully documented in a feature-length cultural documentary.
Speaking during a press conference at the Borneo Cultures Museum, after the screening of the ‘Gawai Antu’ documentary film, the adviser to this documentary film, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu anak Numpang, emphasised the significance of ‘Gawai Antu’ in preserving Iban identity, tradition and oral heritage in the modern age.
Gawai Antu’ is held to honour the spirits of deceased ancestors, involving an intricate series of rituals, chants and ceremonies, often requiring the consensus of an entire longhouse to organise.
It is typically celebrated only once every few decades.
“Though it is costly and not frequently held, sometimes only once in 20 or 30 years, Gawai Antu must not be forgotten, as it is part of our soul as a people. We must encourage the younger generation to know, preserve and promote it,” said Jabu.
“We must promote our culture, our ‘adat’ and our tradition. Gawai Antu is like any other celebration by other communities, which has got very relevant links to the identity and the integrity of each community. In my opinion, it must be sustained.
“It is imperative that we, the elder generation now, encourage the younger generation to learn how to preserve, how to promote, how to continue,” he said.
Jabu, a former deputy chief minister, said ‘Gawai Antu’ should be looked at as a cultural investment and not a cost, adding that cultural heritage should not be seen through the lens of financial burden alone.
“We must see it as an investment in identity. With modern tools, we can now document everything for future generations. This is why we have preserved our 2018 Gawai Antu digitally, from the brewing of ‘tuak’ to the final rituals.
“The full process has been compiled into a 72-minute documentary, with detailed attention given to rare chants, ceremonial roles such as the ‘lemambang’, and even the taboo character ‘Indai Bilai’, brought to life for the first time on screen,” he said.
But with many Ibans now practising Christianity, concerns have been raised over continuing to celebrate ‘Gawai Antu’, especially with regard to whether traditional rituals like this are still relevant.
Jabu offered a nuanced perspective, saying the ‘adat’ and customs existed long before Christianity arrived in Sarawak.
“There is no conflict between culture and religion, both can coexist. It is about remembering where we came from, not about contradicting faith,” he said, citing the Malaysian Constitution’s protection of cultural practices.
In this context he also highlighted the need for young people to understand that losing one’s language, customs and traditions is akin to losing one’s racial and communal identity.
He hoped other Sarawakian communities will follow suit in preserving their cultures and roots.
“There are over 30 ethnic groups in Sarawak. What a loss it would be if each community fails to preserve their own traditions. Let’s document them, in writing, in film, whatever means possible. Once they’re gone, we cannot get them back,” he said.
Currently all of these documents are kept in the family gallery but the information is available to higher institutions of learning, if they need to study it.
Meanwhile, producer and director of the ‘Gawai Antu’ documentary film, Loo Shun Ming, said a documentary film such as this must be digitally preserved for a digital generation.
Both Loo and executive producer, Barbara Dubah Jabu, shared the documentary’s journey from concept to execution.
What started as a documentation effort soon evolved into a deeply cinematic experience that resonated across cultures.
“This was not just about recording rituals. It became a powerful story of family, ancestry, and democracy in practice. We needed to tell it in a way that makes younger generations want to watch and understand it.
“Culture and heritage films need to be made with care and taken seriously, because at the end of the day, who are we without a culture, and who are we without identity?
“I just feel this is a big story, we can’t see something like this in any part of the world. So we thought that it will be worth to shape it into an impact film,” said Loo.
As for Barbara, every song, every story told, every ritual performed, and every act of kindness rooted in customs connects to both the ancestors and to each other.
“This sacred thread of tradition is what anchors us amid change and challenges. When we care for our heritage, we cultivate roots that reach deep into the soil of our land, ensuring that future generations will stand tall on the foundation we build today,” she said.
The making of the documentary involved months of filming, translation of Iban chants and terminology, and careful collaboration with elders to ensure cultural accuracy.
It has since been screened to audiences of various nationalities, evoking strong emotional responses.
The screening was also facilitated by the Serakup Indu Gensurai led by Helen Sunta as well as Rumah Panjai Gensurai Layar, Tuai Rumah Edward Anding Anak Ngabong, and attended by community leaders, students from institutions of higher learning, residents of Rumah Panjai Gensurai Layar, and others.
The documentary screening was sponsored by WTK Holdings Bhd (main sponsor), Ta Ann Group (corporate sponsor), Sarawak Museum Department, and Kupi Kupi FM as their media partner.
