Ulu Aik Kingdom | A Call For Dayak Historical Literacy

I sat beside the Mahapatih and the King of the Ulu Aik Kingdom.

The Dayak people, the original inhabitants of the island of Borneo, have a royal history. At least, there are three or even more. One of the oldest is the Ulu Aik Kingdom in the Ketapang region, today’s West Kalimantan province. The Dayak Ulu Aik kingdom, formerly in the Hindu-Javanese era was known as “Ulu Aer” which means: an area upstream of a (large) river.

I was invited to the Kepatihan of the Kingdom of Ulu Aik in Ketapang, West Kalimantan and have been here for 3 days to attend and witness a big “Domong” meeting, namely traditional elders and Dayak customary stakeholders in Ketapang.

How the Dayak kingdom in the past is presented in the present?

I really admire this great meeting, remembering the greatness of the Dayak kingdom in the past, where this Ulu Aik Kingdom is said to be the forerunner of the Tanjung Pura Kingdom, so it is called “

I met Singa Bansa (born in 1971) who is the 51st descendant of King Ulu Aik. Also met “Mahapatih” (great duke) Alexander Wilyo who holds a title “Patih Jaga Pati Raden Cendaga Pintu Bumi Jaga Banua.”

“I have been looking for a good and suitable writer for a long time, someone who understands our historical background and cultural customs, the land of Borneo,” said Patih. “I just met you now.”

“I have been looking for a good and suitable writer for a long time, someone who understands our historical background and cultural customs, the land of Borneo,” said Patih. “I just met you now.”

As a writer and researcher, I come to the locus studiorum to survey the phenomena.

However, what was interesting for me there was a meeting of the domong and traditional stakeholders. I also met the authenticity of the Dayak through rituals, customs, art and cultural performances, as well as dances and the presentation of typical Dayak food and drink, wine – the essence of glutinous rice water.