The Borneo Cultures (plural) Museum opened recently, after a long delay due to the pandemic. I had booked in advance to make a visit along with my brother but in a few days, bookings will no longer be required. The museum is currently free-of-charge to visit.
The museum attempts to showcase the cultural heritage of my home island. While it makes an awesome attempt but the richness and diversity of Borneo is far too great to house in one building with three floors of permanent exhibits (and two part-floors which aren’t really displaying much for now).
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- The new Borneo Cultures Museum.
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- Melanau Burial poles.
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- Wooden drum similar to the log drums in the Polynesia. The motifs of Borneo now adorn many bodies in the western world.
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- Beaded baby carriers and a wild pig.
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- Iban hornbill carvings (Kenyalang) for ceremonial purposes.
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- Burial jars for human remains; includes the small blue and white one. Many are of Chinese origin.
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- Iban warrior vest.
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- Skulls from the headhunting days.
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- Anglican (Church of England) prayer book in the Malay language. I’m not very good at reading hand-written text in Jawi but I believe it says: Kitab Sembahyang yang dipakai (?) dalam Majlis Orang Kristian.
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- In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. With these words, Singapore, Sarawak and North Borneo (Sabah) became part of Malaysia in 1962.
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- Beaded sunhat.
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- Weaved mats by Penan people feature simple and monochromatic patterns.
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- Iban pua or woven tapestry.
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- Masks of the highland people.
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- A mask from the highland people.
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- Iban gong.
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- The way we were, as captured on the cover of a book. At the museum gift shop.
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- Intricate Nyonya kebayas at the museum gift shop.
