Indigenous Community Identity Within Muslim Societies in Indonesia: A Study of Katab Kebahan Dayak in West Borneo

Prasojo Z.H. 2011. "Indigenous community identity within muslim societies in Indonesia: A study of Katab Kebahan Dayak in West Borneo". Journal of Islamic Studies. 22 (1): 50-65.

Zaenuddin Hudi Prasojo
Pontianak State College for Islamic Studies West Borneo, Indonesia

Abstract

The discourse of locality versus globalization has become a topic of interest in the social sciences and cultural studies. Globalization representing the modern world has provoked the awakening of ‘the silent voice’ of local traditions, especially those of indigenous communities. This paper examines the contribution of globalization to the dynamics of religion, ethnicity, and identity in a local, Muslim indigenous community, the Katab Kebahan Dayak, in West Kalimantan. As the dynamics of society in West Borneo have come under increasing influence from the outside world, the Dayak identity has become more important to people living in the region. It is generally thought that the Dayak are affiliated either to local religious practices and/or to Christian churches, while the Malays are considered as Muslim. However, Katab Kebahan Dayak community members have kept their ethno-religious identity as Muslim Dayak. This paper explores the process of ethno-religious identity formulation in this community and the influences of globalization on inter-group relations within ethnic groups in Melawi District, West Kalimantan. It affirms that the Katab Kebahan Dayak community members consider themselves as historically of Dayak origin and are proud of that. They trace their Muslim ancestry to more than five generations ago and feel no need to switch their ethnic identity. The research shows that the interactions they have with both Malay Muslim and Dayak communities around the region have strengthened their Muslim identity. This paper contributes to the discourse on local traditions within Muslim societies, and argues in favour of the endurance of local indigenous traditions in response to modern globalization. 

http://jis.oxfordjournals.org/content/22/1/50.abstract