The pulse of the Nyobeng ceremony in the heart of the Borneo border

At 04:11 WIB, the ethnic music of the Dayak Bidayuh still resonated from the Baluk Traditional House in Dusun Sebujit Baru, Hli Buei Village, Siding District, Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan. The traditional music played by local residents had been playing since the previous night and continued until dawn.

In the still silent early morning atmosphere, the sound of the musical instruments marked the beginning of the series of rituals as well as the call for the community to gather at the Baluk Traditional House, the cultural center of Dayak Bidayuh life in the Indonesia-Malaysia border area.

Gregorius Gunawan, Chair of the Nyobeng 2026 Committee, explained that for the Dayak Bidayuh community, the Baluk House is not just a traditional building, but a spiritual space where traditional prayers are offered, ancestors are brought forth, and the relationships between humans, nature, and the unseen world are maintained to remain in balance.

Shortly after, Head of Hli Buei Village Custom Amin anak Dot arrived at the Baluk Traditional House guided by his son, Gunawan, to lead the paduapm ritual, a procession to invoke ancestral spirits to be present and bless the course of the celebration. In the solemn ceremony, Amin wore a white cloth headband as a symbol of purity.

The sacred procession was then concluded with the beating of traditional musical instruments, ending the series of rituals that have been a part of the Gawai Nyobeng celebration carried on from generation to generation.

Towards the end of the ritual, Amin anak Dot sat by the open window of the Baluk Traditional House while calling on the residents to gather. This call served as an invitation for the Sebujit community to welcome guests as well as the ancestors who are believed to be present at the Gawai Nyobeng celebration. The local community believes that this call echoes from mountain to mountain and valley to valley, reaching the ancestors even to the Sarawak region, Malaysia, where the Dayak Bidayuh community also resides.

As the sun rises higher, the atmosphere in the village becomes livelier. The words 'Happy Gawai' echo alternately each time the residents meet. Smiles and warm handshakes accompany the steps of the community heading to the Baluk Traditional House to participate in the peak celebration of Gawai Nyobeng or Nibakng 2026, a tradition that expresses gratitude for the harvest as well as marks the beginning of the planting season.

For the Dayak Bidayuh community, Nyobeng is not just a traditional celebration. This tradition is a space to strengthen brotherhood, maintain cultural identity, and honor ancestral heritage that continues to be passed down from generation to generation.

The ease of access to Dusun Sebujit Kecil has also changed the face of the village in the border area.

Yohanes, a resident of Dusun Sebujit Kecil, remembers the time when the journey to Sebujit relied on motorboats via the river route. After that, the journey had to continue on foot for about two hours along a footpath before finally arriving at the village.

"In the past, if there was a guest from outside, they usually came via the river, then walked quite a distance. Now the road is good so it is more accessible by vehicle," said Yohanes.

The location of Sebujit in the border area of West Kalimantan and Sarawak makes the Gawai Nyobeng not only attended by local residents but also attracts visitors from Sarawak, Malaysia. Their presence is not just as guests, but part of a cultural and kinship bond that has existed long before national borders divided the island of Borneo.

The Dayak Bidayuh community in Bengkayang and Sarawak comes from the same ethnic group, sharing language, customs, and traditions still preserved today, making the celebration a meeting platform for the similar communities in both regions.

Bengkayang Regent Sebastianus Darwis, who attended the celebration, believes that Nyobeng plays an important role in preserving the cultural values of the border community.

"The Nyobeng tradition contains noble values inherited by the ancestors, such as mutual cooperation, brotherhood, respect for customs and culture, and the spirit of living harmoniously in diversity," he said.

The celebration atmosphere becomes more lively with the Dayak Bidayuh traditional dance accompanied by traditional music. Various cultural processes color the Baluk Traditional House, symbolizing the identity of the Sebujit community.

Among the various activities held, the upside-down bamboo climbing becomes one of the most anticipated attractions. Cheers erupted from the audience as participants attempted to conquer the towering bamboo pole. That excitement complements the atmosphere of togetherness that colors the celebration throughout the day.

For the Dayak Bidayuh community, Gawai Nyobeng is not only a celebration of the harvest but also a space to strengthen interpersonal relations. This tradition is a meeting place for sister communities from Indonesia and Malaysia united by the same cultural roots.

In the midst of modernity, Gawai Nyobeng endures as an indicator of the Dayak Bidayuh community's identity in the border area. From Sebujit, this pulse of brotherhood continues to live, crossing national borders and reconnecting communities that grow from the same Borneo land.

Photo and Text: Jessica Wuysang