Page 96 - The Guide To Sarawak

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THE ARTS
Traditional Crafts - Textiles
Woven Dreams – Iban Pua Kumbu Textiles
Pua-Kumbu, the intricate warp ikat (woven knotted) textile of the Iban people, has long been recognized by scholars and collectors as one of the finest in
the world. Woven on a backstrap loom, these textiles play an important role in the rituals and culture of the Iban, whose oral history dates back over 40 generations. Women weavers were
accorded status due to their weaving and dyeing skills; the dye-mistress was responsible for initiating the ‘warpath of the women’ in the days when headhunting was also considered a spiritual journey.
Many Pua-Kumbu designs are derived from dreams granted by the weaving goddess, Kumang (Iban Mother Goddess) or Meni (Deity of Good Luck),
thus the term “Woven Dreams”. Contemporary Iban weavers such as Bangie anak Embol and Nancy anak Ngali, although
Christians, still believe that their original masterpieces are derived from dreams, albeit nowadays granted by the Holy Spirit.
The tradition of Iban Pua-Kumbu weaving is
at its strongest in the longhouse community of Rumah Garie, Sungai Kain, in Ulu Kapit district. They use both traditional hand spun cotton and silk, and insist on natural dyes. As a result, the community won the UNESCO Crafts Prize (1998) and their textiles now carry the UNESCO- AHPADA Craft Seal of Excellence.
Iban ladies weaving exquisite Pua-Kumbu textiles on their backstrap looms at the Tun Jugah Foundation studio in Kuching.
The finished article – weaving an heirloom-quality Pua- Kumbu such as this is the most celebrated achievement in Iban culture.