Batu Nabau: a rock formation phenomenon in the context of legends and intangible heritage of the Iban people in Sarawak

Batu Nabau, a prominent rock formation in Engkelili, Sri Aman Sarawak, holds significant cultural and mythological importance for the Iban people, believed to be the petrified remains of a giant serpent. Despite its sacred status and symbolic value, detailed documentation and research on Batu Nabau...

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Main Author: Gregory Kiyai @ Keai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2025
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25511/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25511/1/132_143.pdf
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author Gregory Kiyai @ Keai,
author_facet Gregory Kiyai @ Keai,
author_sort Gregory Kiyai @ Keai,
building UKM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Batu Nabau, a prominent rock formation in Engkelili, Sri Aman Sarawak, holds significant cultural and mythological importance for the Iban people, believed to be the petrified remains of a giant serpent. Despite its sacred status and symbolic value, detailed documentation and research on Batu Nabau are limited. This study investigates Batu Nabau's role in Iban folklore and its contribution to preserving intangible cultural heritage in Iban identity. Employing qualitative methods, the research utilizes an explanatory approach with data collected from primary and secondary sources, including observations and existing literature. Visual analysis of cultural artifacts and oral traditions reveals Batu Nabau's integral role in the Iban community, reflecting their mythology and identity. The findings highlight Batu Nabau’s function as a cultural memory hub and its influence on Iban rituals and community cohesion. Future studies should aim to thoroughly document and analyze the influence of Batu Nabau on Iban cultural practices, exploring its potential as a key element in heritage conservation and culture preservation. The Batu Nabau research is essential in understanding the Iban identity, especially in how traditional stories, myths, and historical events interact with contemporary views on self and community.
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spelling oai:generic.eprints.org:255112025-07-07T07:45:01Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25511/ Batu Nabau: a rock formation phenomenon in the context of legends and intangible heritage of the Iban people in Sarawak Gregory Kiyai @ Keai, Batu Nabau, a prominent rock formation in Engkelili, Sri Aman Sarawak, holds significant cultural and mythological importance for the Iban people, believed to be the petrified remains of a giant serpent. Despite its sacred status and symbolic value, detailed documentation and research on Batu Nabau are limited. This study investigates Batu Nabau's role in Iban folklore and its contribution to preserving intangible cultural heritage in Iban identity. Employing qualitative methods, the research utilizes an explanatory approach with data collected from primary and secondary sources, including observations and existing literature. Visual analysis of cultural artifacts and oral traditions reveals Batu Nabau's integral role in the Iban community, reflecting their mythology and identity. The findings highlight Batu Nabau’s function as a cultural memory hub and its influence on Iban rituals and community cohesion. Future studies should aim to thoroughly document and analyze the influence of Batu Nabau on Iban cultural practices, exploring its potential as a key element in heritage conservation and culture preservation. The Batu Nabau research is essential in understanding the Iban identity, especially in how traditional stories, myths, and historical events interact with contemporary views on self and community. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2025-02-14 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25511/1/132_143.pdf Gregory Kiyai @ Keai, (2025) Batu Nabau: a rock formation phenomenon in the context of legends and intangible heritage of the Iban people in Sarawak. Geografia : Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 21 (1). pp. 132-143. ISSN 2682-7727 http://ejournal.ukm.my/gmjss/index
spellingShingle Gregory Kiyai @ Keai,
Batu Nabau: a rock formation phenomenon in the context of legends and intangible heritage of the Iban people in Sarawak
title Batu Nabau: a rock formation phenomenon in the context of legends and intangible heritage of the Iban people in Sarawak
title_full Batu Nabau: a rock formation phenomenon in the context of legends and intangible heritage of the Iban people in Sarawak
title_fullStr Batu Nabau: a rock formation phenomenon in the context of legends and intangible heritage of the Iban people in Sarawak
title_full_unstemmed Batu Nabau: a rock formation phenomenon in the context of legends and intangible heritage of the Iban people in Sarawak
title_short Batu Nabau: a rock formation phenomenon in the context of legends and intangible heritage of the Iban people in Sarawak
title_sort batu nabau: a rock formation phenomenon in the context of legends and intangible heritage of the iban people in sarawak
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25511/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25511/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/25511/1/132_143.pdf