Exploring Borneo's Soul: New Dayak Philosophy Book Offers Deep Insight for Travelers and Thinkers

Musa Narang (left) and Munaldus (center) with the authors of the Comprehensive Dayak Philosophy book—a cross-border collaboration between Indonesian and Malaysian scholars. They represent the academic and cultural forces driving this indigenous intellectual movement. Photo: Dayaktoday.com

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A Must-Read for Borneo Travelers and Thinkers Alike

Before you pack your bags for Borneo, whether to trek its lush rainforests, cruise its mighty rivers, or immerse yourself in its living cultures, there’s a book you might want to read first.

Filsafat Dayak Komprehensif is not a travel guide in the conventional sense. It offers something deeper: a way of seeing the world through the eyes and thoughts of the island’s original stewards. For travelers, researchers, and those simply seeking to understand the soul of Borneo, this newly launched book is an intellectual and spiritual compass.

Published by Lembaga Literasi Dayak (LLD) and written by seven Dayak scholars, the book unveils the philosophical architecture of one of the oldest living cultures on Earth. From cosmology to ethics, from beauty to logic, it presents Borneo not just as a place—but as a way of thinking.

Cover of the book Comprehensive Dayak Philosophy. xxviii + 433 pages.

As Borneo Travel companies increasingly market “authentic experiences” to global tourists, this book offers something most brochures won’t: the inner worldview of the Dayak people, framed in formal philosophical terms. If you want to travel with understanding, not just curiosity; this book is essential.

Dayak Research Center and the Philosophy of a People

Launched at Lupung Coffee within the Institut Teknologi Keling Kumang (ITKK) campus on May 20, 2025, Filsafat Dayak Komprehensif was celebrated as a landmark publication by the Dayak Research Center (DRC), one of ITKK’s key research arms. The 386-page volume is the first to systematize the Dayak worldview across seven branches of formal philosophy: philosophy of history, ontology, cosmology, ethics, aesthetics, ethno-numerology (Dayak logic), and epistemology.

“This is not just another book on indigenous culture,” said Masri Sareb Putra, M.A., Director of DRC and moderator of the launch. “It’s the first to fully map out Dayak philosophical thinking as a complete worldview—how we live, how we understand being, and how we engage with the universe.”

The event opened with remarks by ITKK Rector Dr. Stefanus Masiun, followed by the symbolic beating of seven gongs by Dr. Patricia anak Ganing, a contributor from Malaysia. Attendees included community elders, scholars, students, and thinkers from across Kalimantan.

Dr. Louis Ringah Kanyan, one of the authors, presented a semiotic breakdown of Dayak philosophy, connecting each branch to local practices, rituals, and relationships with nature. He emphasized how each philosophical strand is deeply rooted in lived experience.

Critical responses came from figures such as Dr. Urbanus, Munaldus, M.A., and Dr. Andang Binawan, while Alexander Mering and Albertus Imas, M.A. expanded the discussion with historical and linguistic context. The absent yet influential voice of Prof. Tiwi Etika, Ph.D., who led the writing team, was represented through citations and commentary throughout the forum.

Ngayau: From Warrior Myth to Modern Struggle

A standout theme from the book—and from the launch event—was the reinterpretation of Ngayau. Often reduced in public discourse to “headhunting,” the concept has long carried negative connotations. But in Filsafat Dayak Komprehensif, Ngayau is reclaimed as a powerful metaphor.

“Ngayau today means the courage to fight poverty, ignorance, and marginalization,” explained Dr. Wilson anak Ayub, prompting applause from the audience. Rather than an archaic act of violence, Ngayau is reframed as a symbol of resistance, transformation, and dignity.

In the philosophical model offered by the book, Ngayau is central to how knowledge is acquired, how communities adapt, and how the Dayak people assert their identity in a rapidly changing world—especially in the face of ecological destruction and cultural erasure.

“We’re not romanticizing the past,” said Masri. “We are using it as a framework for understanding the present and imagining the future.”

This discussion resonated with many in the audience, particularly younger participants who are rediscovering pride in their heritage and eager to contribute to its revival through education and cultural work.

Writing from Within: Dayak Minds, Dayak Words

The most profound shift represented by Filsafat Dayak Komprehensif is its authorship. For too long, Dayak studies have been dominated by outside voices. This book changes that.

“We’re no longer content with being objects of research,” said Musa Narang, Chairman of the Keling Kumang Education Foundation (YPKK), which oversees ITKK. “This is knowledge produced by Dayak minds, rooted in Dayak life.”

The book’s writing team reflects this ethos of self-representation and interdisciplinarity:

• Prof. Tiwi Etika, Ph.D. (lead author) brings philosophical training from India and deep cultural insight.

• Dr. Louis Ringah Kanyan explores symbols and meaning through semiotics.

• Dr. Patricia anak Ganing uncovers linguistic depth in ritual and narrative.

• Masri Sareb Putra, M.A. connects local thought to global philosophical debates.

• Dr. Wilson anak Ayub charts societal shifts in Dayak communities.

• Albertus Imas, M.A. uses ethno-linguistics to understand Dayak cognition.

• Alexander Mering, S.H. analyzes the evolving Dayak identity in the digital era.

Together, they’ve constructed not just a book, but a declaration: the Dayak people possess a rich, reflective, and evolving system of thought that deserves a seat at the global table of ideas.

In his introduction to the book, ITKK Rector Dr. Stefanus Masiun writes, “This work doesn’t just fill a scholarly void—it opens a philosophical pathway to wisdom long buried but never lost.”

For readers, researchers, and global travelers alike, Filsafat Dayak Komprehensif offers a rare window into the inner world of Borneo’s first peoples. It is a philosophical journey; through time, through tradition, and toward transformation.

And for those who plan to visit Borneo, it’s the perfect starting point.

-- Apai Deraman