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| The spatial design of The 1st Dayak Book Fair in Sekadau is carefully curated to reflect both functionality and cultural meaning. Located in the lobby of the Rectorate Building at Institut Teknologi Keling Kumang (ITKK), the layout follows an open-flow concept, allowing visitors to move naturally from one section to another while remaining immersed in the narrative of Dayak literacy. Doc. DayakToday. |
The 1st Dayak Book Fair in Sekadau (May 15–16, 2026) is a historic ethnic-led international exhibition connecting Dayak identity, literacy, and digital storytelling through Borneo Tour and Travel.
The 1st Dayak Book Fair, held on May 15–16, 2026, in Sekadau, marks a historic milestone: the first time in Indonesia that an ethnic community organizes its own international-scale book exhibition. More than a cultural event, this fair embodies a living bridge between memory and modernity, between oral tradition and written knowledge.
In alignment with the digital media core of Borneo Tour and Travel, this event is not only physical but also narrative-driven, designed to amplify Dayak voices globally through digital storytelling, cultural tourism, and knowledge circulation.
Connecting Identity, Memory, and Literacy
Correlation is more than a relationship; it is a living bridge. It flows from upstream to downstream, from lived experience to structured knowledge, from oral storytelling to written documentation.
For the Dayak people, life itself is text. Forests, rivers, tembawang, and longhouses are not passive objects; they are living narratives. They are read daily, without ink or script, yet rich in meaning.
When these living texts are transformed into books, correlation takes form. Books become the medium that binds the old world and the new, transforming tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge. This is not merely a shift in format; it is a civilizational transformation.
Through the lens of Borneo Tour and Travel, this correlation extends further, turning cultural knowledge into digital narratives that can be experienced by global audiences. Culture becomes both heritage and destination.
Speaking to the Present, Shaping the Future
If correlation is connection, then relevance is meaning. A book must speak to its time. It must answer questions that matter today.
Relevance does not depend on novelty. Even older works remain relevant if they continue to illuminate, inspire, and guide. In the Dayak context, relevance means standing for identity, sustainability, and self-determination.
The Dayak world today faces real challenges: globalization, digitalization, palm oil expansion, mining, and transmigration. Relevant books do not ignore these realities; they engage them, offering perspective and insight.
Within the framework of Borneo Tour and Travel, relevance also means accessibility. Can younger generations read it? Can it inspire travelers to understand, not just visit, Borneo? Literacy becomes not only intellectual but experiential.
First Criterion: Books Written by Dayak Authors
The most fundamental criterion is clear: books written by Dayak authors themselves. These are voices from within, not about the Dayak, but from the Dayak.
Writing becomes an act of sovereignty. It records experience, archives memory, and structures knowledge. It ensures that the Dayak are no longer merely subjects of narratives but authors of their own stories.
Nonfiction works, such as research, essays, biographies, and cultural studies, build intellectual foundations. Fiction, including novels, short stories, and poetry, expresses the soul, embedding values, symbols, and philosophy.
This is where the fair becomes a platform. It elevates Dayak writers to center stage, affirming that their works deserve recognition, readership, and global engagement.
Digitally, through Borneo Tour and Travel, these works can travel beyond Sekadau, reaching readers, travelers, and scholars worldwide.
Second Criterion: Books About Dayak from External Perspectives
The second criterion broadens the scope: books about the Dayak, written by external authors. Knowledge is dialogical, not exclusive.
Scholars, anthropologists, historians, and explorers have long contributed to the documentation of Dayak life. Their works provide alternative perspectives, comparative insights, and valuable archives.
However, these perspectives must be read critically. Every narrative carries context, bias, and intention. The Dayak reader must engage actively, comparing, questioning, and enriching understanding.
The Book Fair becomes a space of encounter, between internal voices and external observations, between lived experience and academic analysis.
In the ecosystem of Borneo Tour and Travel, this dialogue evolves into cultural interpretation, helping visitors not only see Borneo, but understand it deeply.
Event Details
Date: May 15–16, 2026
Time: 08:00 AM – 09:00 PM
Venue: Lobby of the Rectorate Building, Institut Teknologi Keling Kumang (ITKK), Sekadau
Students, teachers, lecturers, and the wider public are invited to attend, explore, and engage.
Selected books will be available for purchase, allowing visitors to take home knowledge while preserving collective memory.
