Page 428 - Proceedings Collega2023

DAYUNG BORIH IN GAWAI RITUAL THROUGH PERFORMANCE
THEORY PERSPECTIVE

Elvie Glen MOSUYUN* 1
2
Muhammad Azri Bin ALI*
3
Muhammad Qawiem Bin HAMIZAN*
1,2 Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Sarawak, Malaysia
elvieglen2000@gmail.com
1
2 amazri@unimas.my
2 hmqawiem@unimas.my

ABSTRACT
This research highlights Dayung borih, as a significant aspect of the Gawai ritual, can be better
understood through the performance theory perspective due to its communicative, transformative, and
emotive qualities. This research will be using qualitative method approach which includes interview ,
observation and library research. Through this research method, the fan theory by Richard Schechner is
applied. This study focuses on the Bidayuh community in Sarawak, specifically in Padawan areas that
usually be conducted in June. This study only emphasizes Dayung Borih which is the women Shaman. In
this sense, Dayung Borih is a performance and entertainment that should be seen as an event and a
process actively engaged in by everyone in attendance. In conclusion, this performance theory used by
documenting the process of dayung borih based on the storytelling of the last dayung borih the
performance of the Dayung Borih is believed that their presence can make any ritual in the Bidayuh
community more lively as entertainment for the villagers.

Keywords : Dayung Borih ; performance theory ; the fan ;Gawai ritual

International Conference on Local Wisdom of the Malay Archipelago (COLLEGA 2023) Page - 415 -