Skip to content
  • Who we are
    • About Us
    • Our Partners
    • Contact us
  • What we do
    • We Learn
    • We Protect
    • We Restore
    • We Inspire
  • Act Now
    • Donate
    • Fundraise for us
    • Partner with us
    • Field Courses
    • Shop & Support
    • Back a Campaign
  • Stories
  • Login
  • Who we are
    • About Us
    • Our Partners
    • Contact us
  • What we do
    • We Learn
    • We Protect
    • We Restore
    • We Inspire
  • Act Now
    • Donate
    • Fundraise for us
    • Partner with us
    • Field Courses
    • Shop & Support
    • Back a Campaign
  • Stories
  • Login
donate now
  • Community Development
  • | Written by Shaniya

Learning Culture with the Spirit of Isen Mulang

They came on motorbikes, pulling up to meet us in a Palangka Raya City Park. These five young people — Prilicia, Fani, Dian, Hasyim, and Glen — are students from the University of Palangka Raya, each an awardee of the Orangutan Caring Scholarship (OCS) by Orang Utan Republik Foundation the Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) Indonesia.

As we approached the city roundabout, the students’ excitement grew palpable: this morning marked the opening of the 2022 Isen Mulang Cultural Festival (FBIM), with celebrations planned across Central Kalimantan.

A parade of dancers was due to pass this way shortly, so Prilicia, more familiarly known as Cia, suggested we look for a shady spot from which to watch the festivities. Eager to capture the spectacle, the students also busied themselves setting up a small, dual-lens camera.

After an hour’s wait amidst gathering crowds, a crashing jolt of music signaled that the carnival was about to begin. Soon, a procession of dancers took to the streets in traditional clothing typical of Central Kalimantan’s Dayak tribe.

Prilicia, Fani, Dian, Hasyim, and Glen — awardees of the Orangutan Caring Scholarship (OCS)

“Let’s move closer so we can get some good pictures,” said Cia, motioning her fellow students to follow.

A convoy of cars decorated like a large boat emerged from the city roundabout. All around us were red and yellow decorations, and the sharp smell of incense filled our noses.

Kids and adults alike danced through the city center in elaborate costumes of folk masks, bird feathers, and bark.

Cia told us that the FBIM provided an opportunity for her and her friends to celebrate the indigenous cultures of Central Kalimantan, which are starting to be forgotten.

Performers of the FBIM. Photo by: Yohanes Prahara/BNF Indonesia

“As well as the dancers, later we will see several traditional competitions such as balogo games, Lawang Sekepeng, Malamang and more. With today’s technology, many young people would prefer to play video games than engage with more traditional forms of entertainment.”

Cia added that the preservation of these traditions needs to start with young people; if younger generations don’t continue the old ways, their children and grandchildren will never know the types of games native to Central Kalimantan.

“Balogo games used to be played all over my village, but now we rarely see them because children would rather play with gadgets,” Cia observed, herself a member of the Dayak Manyan tribe.

The Spirit of Isen Mulang

The Mayor of Palangka Raya, Fairid Naparin, explained that “Isen Mulang” means never giving up. Isen Mulang’s philosophy must be understood and lived up to by the young people in Central Kalimantan, especially those in Palangka Raya.

The festivities of Isen Mulang Cultural Festival. Photo by: Yohanes Prahara/BNF Indonesia

“This Isen Mulang Cultural Festival is a means to preserve the culture of Central Kalimantan so that it can be maintained and showcased at a national and even international level,” said Fairid.

Fairid continued that we must practice the spirit of Isen Mulang in everyday life. The Dayak people do not give up easily and neither should we when it comes to preserving the rich variety of cultures in Central Kalimantan, as demonstrated today at the Isen Mulang Cultural Festival.

This cultural event is well-attended by the people of Central Kalimantan, with others travelling long distances from outside the province to see the traditional dances and games on display. “FBIM is held every year, starting in 2007, but in 2020 and 2021 the festivities could not take place because of Covid-19. Now, we can finally host the festival again and revive the spirit of Isen Mulang for all the people of Central Kalimantan,” Fairid concluded.

Written by: Yohanes Prahara, Content Creator and Media Liaison BNF Indonesia

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • July 12, 2022
3 min read
Share to:
Categories:
  • Community Development
MAKE THE CONNECTION.

Get updates from rainforest, job opps, ways to acts and more with our monthly(ish) action letter. 

"(Required)" indicates required fields

Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Related Posts

  • Community Development, Conservation
  • - March 8, 2025

Women’s welfare and wildlife

In Borneo and around the world, women are a driving force for conservation in their communities. Today, on International Women’s Day, we celebrate the vital

Read more

  • Community Development
  • - October 12, 2023

The Hope of the Himba Tabalien Guardians

“Bawi Kuwu Tumbang Rakumpit,Hantelu Nyahu Ngatuntung Langit.Intan Emas Nihau Bahirit,Manganjang Lewu Tumbang Rakumpit.” Abner Dius could be heard singing in the traditional sackut style as

Read more

  • Community Development
  • - January 30, 2023

Getting to Know Local Food

As well as supporting much of Earth’s biodiversity, forest ecosystems are an important source of human livelihood. For this reason, Borneo’s tropical rainforests are regarded

Read more

  • Community Development
  • - December 22, 2022

Weaving Hope for the Future

Gray clouds blanketed Palangka Raya that morning, as we drove 20 minutes from the city center to the village of Kereng Bangkirai in the nearby

Read more

  • Community Development
  • - October 13, 2022

Caring for the Earth with Permaculture

The past few decades have seen the rapid advancement of agricultural technology, with widespread use of genetic engineering and chemical fertilisers. However, many movements are

Read more

  • Community Development
  • - January 4, 2022

Indigenous People and Nature

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING KALIMANTAN’S FOREST In the midst of the hustle and bustle of ecological problems, the recognition of the role of indigenous peoples

Read more

  • Community Development
  • - October 28, 2021

Farming the Ancestors’ Way

TRADITIONAL DAYAK FARMING AND SHIFTING CULTIVATION Farming is a way of survival that has existed for thousands of years in the archipelago. There are various

Read more

  • Community Development
  • - September 27, 2021

Keeping the Veins of Black Water

The river is like a vein and the forest is the heart. When the arteries are damaged, the heart slowly stops functioning. A heart that

Read more

  • Community Development
  • - August 15, 2021

Caring for Village Forests

Written by Yohanes Prahara, BNF’s Content Creator and Media Liaison That afternoon the sun was furious, the heat making the eyes sting and the skin

Read more

  • Community Development
  • - May 6, 2021

Surviving a Pandemic through Permaculture

Permaculture is an alternative livelihood solution during the pandemic Covid-19 The Covid-19 pandemic has become a global disaster that has hit all parts of the

Read more

  • Community Development, Firefighting and Prevention
  • - July 21, 2020

Prosperity without Burning the Land

The dry season has arrived. As in previous years, forest and land fire disasters begin in the dry season, threatening Central Kalimantan. In addition to

Read more

  • Community Development, Conservation
  • - April 22, 2020

Back to Earth, Replacing Plastic Polybags with Purun

For a long time, Dayak people have used natural materials to craft the tools they need everyday, including hats, sleeping equipment, baskets, and even bags.

Read more

CASH IS A FORCE FOR GOOD; FUND ACTION ON ALL FRONTS
DONATE NOW

We collaborate to protect Borneo’s rainforest, one of the most important on Earth, with science, community-led action and education; for a world where people and nature thrive.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Login
  • Donate
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Login
  • Donate
  • Annual Reports
  • Policies
  • Annual Reports
  • Policies
Facebook-f Youtube X-twitter Instagram Linkedin-in
© 2025 Borneo Nature Foundation. All rights reserved.