The unique Sarawakian Orang Ulu Kabo necklaces and bracelets are locally known as ‘Buah Kabo’, as they resemble a fruit. The Kabo in English is called a bobble and it is made from hundreds of glass seed beads. In Sarawak, the Kabo is commonly used by the Orang Ulu community, namely the Kelabit, Kayan and Kenyah people, who live in the highlands of Sarawak, Borneo. This tradition goes back hundreds of centuries, as the Kabo was only used by the tribal men. Producers of Kabo like Green Daun – a Craft Shop located in Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia – took the initiative to learn these special Kabo making skills from one of the Orang Ulu people in Sarawak. Now after learning and understanding this ethnic jewelry, they have made quite a number of them over the last years. Kabo necklace and bracelet History There is no exact history to the Kabo, but stories handed down from generation to generation seem to be the only form of documentation. Sarawak museum should be a good source of information. The Kabo has always been a strong tribal accessory that is used till this very day. The original Kabo comes in bright chilli red colour, and is used as a centre piece of the men’s necklace. Even male kids would wear the Kabo necklace in Sarawak. In the past, it was considered a taboo for women to wear the Kabo, hence only the men wore it. Through the generations, and thanks to modern times, the Kabo is nowadays used by both men and women, as taboos are less observed amongst the Orang Ulu people. Men used to wear the Kabo when they went hunting or traveled to other villages, and when other tribes saw them, they would roughly know what tribe or village the person came from. Tthere seems to be nothing sacred about the Kabo, except that the design indicates from what Orang Ulu village a person hails from. The sizes also indicate which ethnicity villagers belong to. Kabo necklace colors Tradition says that the original colours of the Kabo were red, orange and brown. Sometimes a mix of colours were used in making them. Nowadays, due to contemporary modern jewellery designs, they are made in various colours, and this is mainly a result of fashion. Kabo are made in various colours and based on modern contemporary design, mixing ethnic tribal and modern beads, coming out with chunky necklaces, fusion bracelets, simple Kabo earrings  and even in minimalistic designs. The Kabo designs are following the traditional way of making them, but infused with modern day crystals, spacers and clay beads. Producers try to keep the Sarawakian elements in the modern designs, making them suitable for everyday use. Making a Kabo is not an easy task, as the work involved is skillful. The Kabo can be small, medium, large or even extra large, depending on how big the wearer wants them. Colours can be selected to match the overall design. Kabo necklace and bracelet in Malaysia The Kabo is handmade and cannot be machine made. This means, you will not see Chinese versions selling at super cheap prices. This is one of the Sarawakian ethnic jewellery that is very unique and special, which reflects the Orang Ulu community.

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Are you familiar with beads? Have you ever come across ancient ones? Generally, beads are well-known objects the world over. Some of them are believe to have existed for over 100,000 years! They are usually employed as small decorative objects and come in variety types of shapes, sizes and colour. Beads can be made up of stone, bone, shell, glass, plastic, wood and pearl, and are later collaged together with threads or strings. Despite being previously mostly known as jewellery, beads in modern times are more related to art and craft.    History tells us that the use of beads indicated social status, wealth and power amongst the natives of Borneo. Narrowing it down to the Sarawak area, original beads there were made out of wood, shell, stone, glass, wild boar and leopard teeth and also bones. It can be said that beads in Sarawak are quite unique as they are related with the region several ethnic groups. The ethnic influence played a major part in the pattern and technique of beads making, with each ethnic groups having different patterns and meaning of their beads, commonly used as jewellery and also sawn into traditional clothing. To give you a few examples, beads in Iban communities – Iban is the largest ethnic group in Sarawak – are used in a traditional piece of clothing (Ngepan Iban) called Tango.  A tango is worn on a lady’s shoulder and is an essential part of women traditional dress. Bidayuh ethnic group uses beads as the necklaces, while the Orang Ulu group mostly uses beads in headbands, traditional dresses, hats and accessories such as reed baskets. Most of these beads are worn by natives during Gawai Festival. The yearly Kuching Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is mainly a celebration for culture, and as beads and culture are inseparable, the festival Craft Bazaar showcases a great range of beads made ad used by Sarawak indigenous people. There you can see both beads belonging to the past, and beads used in modern times, sawn onto handbags and modern times clothings. I am a local and I have visited Rainforest World Music Festival craft bazaar every year in the past five years. I admit I really admire the beads made by my own ethnic people. Sure, the variety of beads around the world is quite wide, but Borneo beads design and colours and patters are so unique, you will not be able to find a match anywhere else. Similarities perhaps many, but never exactly the same. In fact, Sarawak takes the beads business quite seriously by organising a Beads Conference: https://greendaun.com/borneo-international-beads-conference-2017/ – This internationally acclaimed Beads Conference has seen many countries participating over the years, and is highly recommended for those who love beads, or want to know more about them. There will also be a special craft bazaar in conjunction with this event, showcasing many traditional and contemporary beaded jewellery on sale. Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is back this year from 12 to 14 July – for tickets and program click HERE. This will be your chance to visit the Craft Bazaar, open daily from 10,30 am to 8,30 pm, and grab some interesting specimen. For Sarawak Tourism Board website and events, click on https://sarawaktourism.com  Unique Sarawak beads are waiting for you!

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Mathew Ngau Jau of Lan E Tuyang is a craftsman, a stone sculptor and a musician. I met him at the media and artists canteen and we shared lunch and a nice chat. He had just returned from a concert in Milano (yes!) where he said “it was so cold, it was a taxi-airport-hotel-concert-hotel-taxi-airport trip, not much else”. I commented that the Italian wine must have been a good warmer, to which he laughed loud. His trio Lan E Tuyang is a traditional Kenyah (the ethnic group Orang Ulu) band performing exotic native Kenyah tunes, comprising two Sapes, a percussionist and a warrior dancer. Mathew plays the Sape, a quite popular string musical instrument amongst traditional indigenous people in Borneo, a three-stringed boat-shaped lute with colourful and ethnic patterns. The Sape produces haunting and mesmerizing sound and is in danger of being forgotten due to lack of interest among the younger generations. No wonder Mathew has been used as the icon of Rainforest World Music Festival. Recently PETRONAS, as part of their continuous commitment to the preservation of Malaysia’s traditional arts and culture, has contributed to this preservation by donating RM 50,000 (12,500 US$) to Lan E Tuyang to assist in their continuous efforts to preserve, nurture and promote the Sape music through various educational and promotional efforts. The music of the Kenyahs, hailing from the interiors of Borneo in the area along the Baram river, is very much part of the community and its everyday life. Mathew has been playing the Sape of Sarawak since he was little, and not only is he an accomplished musician on the instrument, but he also makes the sapes, paints, dances, and is an expert on the blowpipe. Lan E Tuyang is a proponent of the Sape music; they have performed in Germany, France, Australia and the US. They also teach Sape music to the younger generations in Kuching and elsewhere, promoting Malaysian traditional performing arts. Follow Lan E Tuyang on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lane.tuyang Follow Lan E Tuyang on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ky703N1rZDY#at=28 LAN E TUYANG HOMESTAY Mathew kindly invited me to a future stay at his Lan E Tuyang Homestay, which provides a unique opportunity for all tourists and local alike to experience the way of life of the local people of Sarawak along with their indigenous and traditional cultures. Lan E Tuyang Homestay provides all visitors an opportunity to experience a place in truly authentic, comfortable and homely settings. Lan E Tuyang Homestay is ready to showcase the cultures and traditions of the Orang Ulu and Bidayuh of Sarawak. Lan E Tuyang Homestay also takes all necessary measures to safeguard their cultures and traditions from the negative social and cultural impacts from visitors. Contact Michael Ngau Jau at the Lan E Tuyang Homestay on +60 138203365 / +60 198749384 / Mathew_ngau@yahoo.com

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