Keeping the Spirit Alive: Central Kalimantan

The Hornbill (Bucerotidae sp), known locally as Burung Tingang, has an important position within the culture of the Dayak tribe in Central Kalimantan.

They call it the “bird of spirit”. Local people believe the bird brings prosperity, strength and vigor. The bird, they believe, often carries messages from their ancestors to them.

That is why Dayak people often wear ornaments that represent the hornbill. A young man will obtain the strength of a hornbill through a rite of passage.

The man will eventually become a warrior after receiving mandau (a traditional dagger) and a headdress produced from the bird’s feathers.

— Jerry Adiguna