KUCHING: The younger generation must take an active role in preserving Iban traditional crafts and ensuring the skills, knowledge and cultural identity behind them continue into the future.
The call came from Iban Women Charitable Trust’s (IWCT) Chairwoman, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Empiang Jabu, during the IWCT Handicraft Competition 2025/2026 prize-giving ceremony, officiated by Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, at Riverside Majestic Hotel here today.
Empiang said experienced artisans had a responsibility to pass their skills to younger people so traditional crafts would not disappear.
“Those who possess these skills must teach the younger generation so that our crafts will not end, but continue to be seen and remembered for generations,” she said.
She urged young people to become active custodians of Iban identity by combining traditional knowledge with modern technology, education and digital platforms.
“You are not just the leaders of tomorrow. You are the protectors and custodians of our identity today,” she said.
Empiang said preserving Iban crafts was not simply about keeping traditional items from the past, but protecting the history, beliefs, values and way of life embedded in each piece.
“Culture is not a distant object to be stored away, nor is it meant only for ceremonies. Culture is the very heart of who we are,” she said.
The competition attracted 111 participants from across Sarawak, with 122 entries submitted across nine categories.
They included Tikai Bemban Anyam Bebuah, Pua Kumbu, Kain Kebat, Kain Karap, Marik Empang or Tanggu, Baju Kuas, Parang Nyabur Indu, Parang Nyabur Lelaki and Langgai Tingang.
Blacksmithing or ‘ngambuh’ was introduced as a new component of the competition this year.
The participants comprised 71 women and 19 men, with the oldest aged 81 and the youngest 19.
Empiang said the strong response demonstrated continued interest in Iban craftsmanship, while also highlighting the need to ensure the skills remained relevant to future generations.
She said IWCT would continue organising similar programmes to improve the quality and standards of indigenous Iban crafts, while encouraging greater production for commercial purposes.
Such efforts, she said, could create opportunities for rural communities to generate income from their traditional skills while strengthening the sustainability of the craft industry.
Established in 2009 under the Charitable Ordinance, IWCT has conducted programmes involving women’s skills training, weaving, grassroots leadership and craft workshops in various parts of Sarawak.
Empiang said the trust hoped to expand the competition into a wider platform involving more weavers, craftsmen and cultural custodians across the region.
She also expressed hope for greater collaboration with institutions of higher learning to encourage young people to take an interest in Iban craftsmanship.
The initiative, she said, was ultimately about ensuring Iban heritage remained alive, relevant and commercially sustainable for generations to come.
