Malaysia: A Sea Dayak (Iban) of Sarawak in full warrior apparel

The Dayak or Dyak are native people of Borneo. 'Dayak' is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic subgroups, located principally in the interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily identifiable.

Dayak languages are categorised as part of the Austronesian languages in Asia. The Dayak were animist in belief; however many converted to Christianity, and some embraced Islam more recently. Estimates for the Dayak population range from 2 to 4 million.

Sarawak was established as a state in northwestern Borneo by Sir James Brooke in 1842 when he obtained independent kingdom status from the Sultanate of Brunei as a reward for helping fight piracy and insurgency.

In 1888, Charles Anthony Johnson Brooke, the successor of James Brooke, accepted a British Protectorate, which it remained until 1946, when the third ruler Charles Vyner Brooke ceded his rights to the United Kingdom. Since 1963, Sarawak has been a state of Malaysia.

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