# Ngajat: The Warrior Dance of Sarawak's Iban People

> Ngajat is a traditional dance of the Iban people of Sarawak, originally performed by warriors returning from the battlefield, and today a headline performance at Gawai Day celebrations and at ceremonies to welcome guests to the longhouse.

- Category: arts-culture
- Language: en
- Status: published
- Updated: 2026-08-01
- Canonical: https://negaraku.md/en/arts-culture/ngajat

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In the gallery of a longhouse in Sarawak, a man with hornbill feathers on his head leaps, spins and stamps the floor — a sword in one hand, a shield in the other. This is **Ngajat**, the dance that once welcomed warriors home from the battlefield.

## What is the Ngajat dance?

Ngajat is a traditional dance of the **Iban people** of Sarawak. In the cultural mapping of the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN), it is classified under Performing Arts — Dance.

According to ICHLinks records, this dance is believed to have **existed alongside the Iban people since the 16th century**. It was originally performed by warriors returning from war or hunting, as a celebration of victory. Today its function has shifted to a celebratory performance.

## Why do its movements resemble a bird?

Because that bird carries a special meaning. Every movement of Ngajat represents the **Hornbill** (Burung Kenyalang) — the bird that is the emblem of the Iban people and of the state of Sarawak, "Bumi Kenyalang" (the Land of the Hornbills).

The men's dance is bold: it depicts a warrior heading to war or a bird in flight. According to ICHLinks records, male dancers wear a headdress of hornbill feathers, carry a long ornamented shield and a sword, and dress in a loincloth (cawat). By contrast, **Ngajat Indu** performed by women emphasises "the values of gentleness and modesty of Iban women", with movements that mimic the work of weaving **pua kumbu**.

## When is it performed?

Its original function as a war dance has now been replaced by two main contexts:

- **Gawai Dayak Day celebrations** and cultural events in Sarawak.
- **Welcoming guests** who come to visit the Iban longhouse.

## What are the types of Ngajat?

Ngajat is not a single dance, but a group of dances. Among the types recorded by JKKN:

| Type | Main feature |
| --- | --- |
| Ngajat Lesong | Performed by a man who lifts a **wooden mortar using his teeth** — according to JKKN weighing up to 20 kilograms — symbolising a man fighting to win a woman's heart |
| Ngajat Indu | Performed by women; gentle movements mimicking the work of weaving pua kumbu |
| Ngajat Pua Kumbu | Uses the **pua kumbu** cloth; formerly associated with welcoming a warrior returning bearing an enemy's head (now replaced by a coconut as a symbol) |
| Ngajat Ngiling Tikai | "Rolling up the mat" — marking the **end** of the Gawai Dayak celebration and informing the deities (petara) and spirits (antu) that the festival is over |

## What is its music?

Ngajat is danced to the rhythm of traditional Iban music. ICHLinks records list gongs as well as percussion instruments such as **enkeromong, bendai, canang, dumbak and ketebong**. According to the JKKN page for Ngajat Pua Kumbu, the traditional music accompaniment that accompanies this dance is known as **Taboh Iban**.

## What's next

- Read [Gawai Dayak](/arts-culture/gawai-dayak) to understand the harvest festival of the Dayak people of Sarawak, where Ngajat is the headline performance.
- See the JKKN cultural mapping records for official information on each type of Ngajat.
- Refer to the [Sarawak](/states/sarawak) page for the home state of this dance and the community that inherits it.

## Sources

- Ngajat Indu — Maklumat Seni Budaya — https://pemetaanbudaya.jkkn.gov.my/senibudaya/detail/1078 (Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara (JKKN))
- Ngajat Lesong — Maklumat Seni Budaya — https://pemetaanbudaya.jkkn.gov.my/senibudaya/detail/1079 (Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara (JKKN))
- Ngajat Ngiling Tikai — Maklumat Seni Budaya — https://pemetaanbudaya.jkkn.gov.my/senibudaya/detail/1081 (Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara (JKKN))
- Ngajat Pua Kumbu — Maklumat Seni Budaya — https://pemetaanbudaya.jkkn.gov.my/senibudaya/detail/1082 (Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara (JKKN))
- Ngajat Dance — https://www.ichlinks.com/archive/elements/elementsV.do?page=&elementsUid=13829896149458001257&searchText=Ngajat+Dance (ICHLinks — disumbangkan oleh The Malaysia Arts Cultural Practitioners Association (MACPA))

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Source of truth: https://github.com/negaraku-md/NegaraKu.md
License: CC BY-SA 4.0