Bidayuh

Bidayuh is the collective name for several indigenous groups found in southern Sarawak, Malaysia and northern West Kalimantan, Indonesia, on the island of Borneo, which are broadly similar in language and culture. The name Bidayuh means 'inhabitants of land'. Originally from the western part of Borneo, the collective name Land Dayak was first used during the period of Rajah James Brooke, the White Rajah of Sarawak.

Predominantly Bidayuh areas in Sarawak are Lundu, Bau, Penrissen, Padawan, Siburan, and Serian. Most Bidayuh villages can be found in the rural areas of Lundu, Bau, Padawan, Penrissen, and Serian district. 

Believed to have originated from the coastal areas of Kalimantan, Indonesia, the Bidayuh share many similar cultural traits with the Dayak tribe of Indonesia. The Bidayuh moved to Sungkung, West Kalimantan, Indonesia and eventually moved towards Rabak Mikabuh in the areas of Penrissen. 

The Bidayuh also believed that their ancestors had lived in areas that are now part of West Kalimantan. From there, the Bidayuh started to build their villages on the mountain tops of some of the major mountains including Singai, Bratak, and Jagoi, which are now considered as the ancestral homes of the Bidayuh Bau group in Sarawak. A Bidayuh village typically consists of a long house or botang romin and an octagonal social and ritual house built for both social and religious purposes known as a baruk in Bau or panggah in Bukar Sadong and Biatah. The baruk is considered to be a sacred place where some of the religious rituals are conducted, but it is also a place where meetings among the men folks are held.

The Bidayuh can be considered a diverse group since they are divided into six main dialectal groups which are the Biatah, Bau-Jagoi, Bukar-Sadong, Tringgus or Sembaan, Salako and Rara 

The Biatah variation is spoken in the Padawan and Kuching districts, while the Bau-Jagoi variation is mainly spoken in Bau and Bukar-Sadong in Serian. 

The Tringgus or Sembaan variation is spoken between the borders of the Biatah and Bau districts, while the Salako and Rara variations are mainly found in the Lundu district.

The dialects in the Serian, Kuching and Bau districts are all considered to be in the “Bidayuhic” family of languages.