Kayan and their oral tradition
Kayan came from a non-literate culture and their oral tradition forms the foundation of their society. This means their stories, histories and knowledge are passed down from one generation to the next through oral transmission. Kayan oral traditions, tekna and lung are two forms of oral tradition that are endangered.
​
Itam Kayan ni pa, usi tek surat kalung alem dahun tam. Jadi lim-lim ket dahun tebara, lung nunan en daha sepun tam uk itam men lung daha. Usi tek ket aleng kalung awi dahun kelunan ha beh. Tek dua avan tam belajen marung urip, dahin kelenghi tebara, iha tih men tekna dahin lung.
Singing the tekna at the ELF Language Legacy project on February 21, 2022
Left to right: Margaret Ajeng, KK Robert Luhat from Long Laput, Uring Emang (main singer), Ubong Emang, Balo’ Usun Jok, Balo’ Do’ Jau (all the women singers are from Uma Bawang).
The tekná /tekna is a very important oral tradition of the Kayan. It is a form of poetry, described by Morgan (1980) as a song-tale. It can be divided into two categories, i.e. tekná asen (the original old tekná) where stories of Kayan legends and the supernatural are told in the narration of the tekna and, tekná maring (or new tekná) which is the modern version of the tekná (Jau et al., 2011).
Tekná maring often narrates the contemporary social world of the Kayan but reminiscences of the old world are salient in each narration. Through tekná modern Kayan are connected to their ancestors, their values and beliefs passed down through the generations (Wan et al., 2018).
​
​
Ket aleng en tam Kayan melegah lan tekná nih. Ket aleng pu'un adat tam. Tekná nih awi pantun, poetry kurin daha dih bi tek pah kurin doh Morgan (1980) nih, tekná awi lung aleng en kelunan nyanyi. Avin piyah nyanyi kah bi alem nyanyi atih tek tebara, tek lung marung urip tam, tek nangen kenep men itam. Tek dua na'an tekná; iha tih, tekná menuna - anih tekná aleng en sepun tam na, marung lung-lung kelunan lakin tek hang tam Kayan, lung-lung keli'ah, bi tek pah ji la'an tekná maring.
Tekna maring anih usi nah tek lung-lung marung kelunan lakin atau lung tok. Alem tekná maring nih iha nah marung urip tam Kayan baya anih, peleken dahin dahok bara men itam.
​
​
​
Singing the tekna at the Endangered Language Fund, Language Legacy project workshop in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. February 22, 2022.
Front on stage left to right: Jalong from Long Bemang, Lake' Imu (main singer), Pemanca Gilbert, both from Long Panai.
Front left, Ping Laing, Freda Aren Wan from Long Panai, Tua Kampong Robert from Long Laput.
Kayan women singing the tekna
Date: 21/2/2022
Location: Miri, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
In the picture: Margaret Ajeng, Ubong Emang, Balo Usun Jok, Balo Do’ Jau
Talking about lakuh (Mugang Ngang, Taman Urai, Hinan Urai, Aren Wan, Luhong Wan, and Roselind Wan. Lakuh sung by Hinan Urai (July, 2014).
Lakuh sung by Aren Jok (July, 2014).
Echo: Aren Wan, Paya Wan
*Lakuh is an adaptation of the Malay pantun.
