Continuing Seduan Melanau traditions practised for centuries

THE Seduan Melanau can trace their historical roots in Sarawak as far back as the 1700s.

This is because when the Mount Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia erupted in 1883, the community was already known to have settled in the Sungai Seduan area of Sibu for many generations.

Although today the river is known as Sungai Merah, even in the 1950s, official documents such as land titles and others still used the name Seduan, and it was also the name of a Council Negri constituency.

There is still debate on whether the Melanau community in the area was named after the river or whether the river got its name from the people.

What is known is that for some 400 years, the sizeable Seduan Melanau community in and around Sibu, principally in Kampung Nangka, as well as other settlements, have fervently continued to observe similar general socio-cultural practices.

This includes the process and form of a traditional Seduan Melanau wedding ceremony, which is known as Surung Berian.

Last Monday in Kuching, during the wedding reception of Captain Dante Dris and Alison Bungan Joseph at a five-star hotel, this centuries-old traditional ceremony was on full display.

A 25-strong cultural team from Kampung Nangka enacted the elaborate Surung Berian ceremony for some 300 guests, who included Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing; Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and his wife Datin Amar Jumaini Tuanku Bujang; former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang and his wife Tan Sri Dato Sri Empiang Jabu; as well as State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani and his wife Puan Sri Datin Amar Saptuyah Suib.

The Surung Berian ceremony, which in the past could last for up to a day, was shortened to suit the occasion, but it still managed to encapsulate Seduan Melanau traditions.

The ceremony began on the basis that the bertunang or engagement had been properly carried out according to its terms and conditions.

On stage to begin with were the bride’s representatives led by Jamat Manjat.

Narrator Alexius Barieng explained the ceremony in English to the guests from different ethnic groups and religions.

The six main components of the Surung Berian are:

• Penyekap
• Ulau Berian
• Berian
• Pakan
• Luguk
• Sisei

Presenting the items on behalf of the groom’s family was a six-member team led by Sahari Ubu, which entered the banquet hall accompanied by a traditional orchestra comprising the Gerumong, Tawak, Sanang and Genang Seruni.

Penyekap

For the Surung Berian, the Penyekap is the premier item of the overall dowry presentations.

No other items of the traditional wedding ceremony can be negotiated unless the Penyekap has first been cleared and accepted by the bride’s representatives.

For past generations, this could mean lengthy discussions among the two families involved, which was usually witnessed by the elders and relatives.

One particular demand in the presentation of the Penyekap is that it has to be guarded and accompanied by a specific item, which may be symbolically viewed as a security assurance — either a sword or other weaponry item of a specific named design. Without this, the required item has to be accompanied by a specific quantum of gold.

The specific accompanying item with the Penyekap is mandatory and based on the social status of the bride and groom, which is determined by the adat in force, as decided by the elders.

Ulau Berian

The Ulau Berian, which may be translated as the dowry presentation, is considered the main item of the whole presentation as it recognises the socio-cultural position of the bride and groom as specified by the Adat Nikah Kahwin or marriage customs of the Seduan Melanau, as agreed and confirmed by the council of elders.

It can also be amicably settled between the bride and groom’s families well ahead of the ceremony.

However, the actual amount presented by the groom’s family is usually much higher than the mandatory amount based on the accepted adat prevailing at the time, according to the means of the groom and his family.

Berian

The gift from the bridegroom to the bride, which is known as the Berian, includes the mandatory item, which is specified by the adat. For Dante and Alison’s wedding, the Adat Tujuh Pikul applied.

Currently the equivalent value per pikul, as agreed by the council of elders for the Seduan Melanau community, is fixed at RM50. Therefore, for Dante and Alison, the specified mandatory amount for Adat Tujuh Pikul was RM350.

Pakan

The Pakan presentation may be translated as a mark of appreciation from the groom’s family to the bride’s family for allowing her hand in marriage.

The amount presented is unspecified and depends on the decision of the groom’s family.

For the Ulau Berian and Pakan, the amount received is only shared among family members and close friends.

In a village setting, those observing the ceremony would also be party to the amount; making it a topic that is discussed in a lively manner during the Surung Berian as they would have an interest in its result.

Luguk

The next item is the Luguk, which is a token amount to acknowledge the eldest sibling of the bride, who in this case is Alister Tingang Joseph.

Sisei

The last of the major items to be presented to the bride’s family is the Sisei.

It is a token sum to be given to the uncles and aunts of the bride, in recognition of their role in her upbringing.

During the ceremony on Monday, following inspections and discussions by the bride’s representatives, all the six items were accepted.

As such the adat agreed to formalise the marriage process was proper and complete.

The successful completion of the Surung Berian played a part in helping to ensure the Seduan Melanau community’s centuries-old traditions will continue to be practised for generations to come.

Dante is the son of Yayasan Perpaduan Sarawak (YPS) general manager and outgoing Angkatan Zaman Mansang (Azam) CEO Datu Aloysius J Dris and businesswoman Datin Teresa Bateman, while Alison is the daughter of Malindo Air pilot Captain Adrian Joseph and businesswoman Theresa Ping Tingang.

Dante is a pilot for Malaysia Airlines, while Alison is a businesswoman.