Culture, Colour and a Global Gathering at Gawai Festival, West Borneo, Indonesia
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Culture, Colour and a Global Gathering at Gawai Festival, West Borneo, Indonesia

Story by STEPHANIE BROOKES Photos by DAVID METCALF AND HIS GAWAI PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP I stood with my blowpipe at the ready. “Gather strength from your core and aim high,” Agus advised. “We are excited to have an Australian team enter the competition and best of luck to you”, he added with a broad smile with…

Isen Mulang Festival 2016
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Isen Mulang Festival 2016

Author: Yun Pratiwi Central Kalimantan is the third largest province in Indonesia; located in the island of Borneo, it is divided into 13 districts and one single town: its capital Palangkaraya. Each Dayak district has its own language, and there are more than 15 Dayak languages, with the majority of Central Kalimantan speaking Dayak Ngaju….

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Pak Anden: the Dayak Elder and Village Chief

Pak Anden: the Dayak Elder and Village Chief by David Metcalf Pak Anden greeted me by smudging my forehead and cheeks with a white powdered paste. After I received my traditional Dayak blessing, we talked about the issues facing his village Kanarakan, located on the Rungan River in Central Kalimantan, two hours by boat from…

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Isen Mulang – A Cultural Extravaganza

Isen Mulang – A Cultural Extravaganza By David Metcalf A very special event occurs in Central Borneo on May the 18th each year. Thousands of Dayaks converge on the small city of Palangkaraya to join together in a spirit of dance, fun, joy and cultural expression. They come from the river village settlements, from the…