The Iban Room

Your room is designed on the culture and craftsmanship of the Iban tribe that live in Sarawak, Malaysia. They are notorious for being ‘headhunters’. During hunting and warfare practices they decapitate their prey or enemy as a sign of status and power. The Iban believe that if they hang the skulls of their enemies in their longhouse they will obtain the power, strength and intelligence of that individual. Since the 1960’s the Malaysian government has banned the decapitation of humans and the practice has since died. However the decapitation of animals is still practiced. Especially during their annual feast day called ‘Gawai’ where the Iban hang monkey heads in their longhouse to respect the dead and fight off unwanted spirits.