Entitled ’Border History of A Borneo Longhouse: The Search for a Life that is Very Good‘, the book was launched on 21 July in Amsterdam
How do we define a ‘good life’?
Anthropologist Datin Dr Valerie Mashman found herself embarking on a 10-year project documenting the history of Long Peluan village in the Kelabit Highlights of Sarawak, as told by the village headman about his people in the village.
Mashman, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Borneo Studies, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, spent over a decade researching the history of Long Peluan, where her husband, Datu Ose Murang, hails from. This study began in 2010 when the village headman, Malian Tepun, handed her tapes narrating the history of his people. These tapes formed the backbone of her research, presenting three historical narratives defining the essence of a ‘good life’ in Long Peluan.
Read more: Shaq Koyok gives voice to Malaysia’s marginalised orang asli communities through art
July 21, 2024 marked the launch of Mashman’s book, the culmination of that decade-long research. The book is entitled Border History of A Borneo Longhouse: The Search for a Life that is Very Good, and the image on the book’s cover is none other than the village headman, Malian Tepun, who is also an ex-Border Scout.
Published by Amsterdam University Press, the book launch was attended by notable figures, including His Excellency Roseli Abdul (pictured above), ambassador of Malaysia to the Kingdom of Netherlands, and members of the Kelabit community in the Netherlands.
Mashman’s book captures the resilience and adaptability of the Kelabit people, illustrating their interactions with the Brooke state, their peace-making efforts, and their journey towards Christianity. This micro-history, often overlooked in mainstream historical narratives, provides a rich cultural structure that has allowed the Kelabit tribe to maintain their identity amid transformative changes.
“This research is crucial because micro-histories are often left out of Malaysia’s mainstream historical narrative. Yet, these numerous micro-histories collectively shape our country’s story,” said Datu Ose Murang, who played a pivotal role in interpreting, translating, and transcribing the interviews and findings. He also accompanied Dr Mashman on her travels through the Ulu Baram area during the research period.
A resource for anyone interested in Austronesian studies, Southeast Asian history, oral history, and the anthropology of value, sociality and ethnic identity, the book provides valuable insights into the history of the transnational peoples of Borneo, including the Kelabit, Sa’ban, Kenyah, Ngurek, Penan, and the Lun Dayeh.
