Orang-Sihir (Song for a sick person), 1

Archivist's Original Title
Orang-Sihir (Song for a sick person), 1
Orang-Sihir (Chant pour un malade), 1
Original description
Unpublished sound recordings, made by Pierre Yvanoff between 1953-1954, during an expedition in East Borneo (on the Mahakam River): shamanic ceremony during which Ubung, the medicine man, addresses incantations to the Gods in sight of the healing of a patient.
Time duration
00:07:53
Recording date of the original material
1953
Acquisition Date
1968
Population
Dayak
Place of the cultural origin
Country Name
Performer/Speaker
Ubung
Comment
“These medicine men are rare in Borneo. In the Méhakam region, Ubung is the only medicine man. He was initiated in the lower Méhakam by "bougis", who come from the island of Celebes. He only became Orang-Sihir after a long initiation. Among the Penihing, at the baang of Nahan bohan, a man is dying. ubung drew white dots on his body so that the allied gods would recognize him. Bells are attached to his ankles. He addresses his incantations to the Gods, either in Malay or in the Bahau dialect. It imposes its rhythm on the two young girls who each beat on a gong and on the two men who beat the two small drums. He will officiate all night. But the verdict will be formal: at dawn, the patient will die after his departure. It was true” (Cf. Presentation booklet of the Dayak Music collection. Borneo (Kalimantan)).
Tags, Keywords
Ceremony
Shamanism
Healing
Archivist Category
English Music (Vocal and instrumental)
Recording context
English Field recording
Instrument, Original Archivist Data
Beaten drum
Voice - singing: male solo
Gong
Grelot
Collector
Name of original Collection
Expédition à Bornéo, Pierre Yvanoff (1953-1954)
History of ownership
Recording archived at Musée de l’Homme
Holding Institution of Original Materials
Copyright Information
Public Domain
Copyright Notice
For any use, please contact the CREM-LESC (CNRS, Nanterre University, France): see information at https://archives.crem-cnrs.fr
Physical format
English Magnetic tape
Preservation State of Physical Object
Magnetic tape; diameter 18cm; speed 19cm/s; Full Track, Mono
Original item number
CNRSMH_I_1968_028_001_01
SEAH Identifier
SEAH_CNRSMH_I_1968_028_001_01
Location