Tidung people
Native group of people from Borneo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Tidung or Tidong (Jawi: تيدوڠ) are a native group originating from northeastern part of Borneo and surrounding small islands. They live on both sides of the border of Malaysia and Indonesia.[1]
 Traditional marriage attire of Tidung people, native inhabitants of region around Tana Tidung Regency, North Kalimantan, Indonesia. | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 76,000[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Malaysia28,715 (Sabah)[2]
| |
| Languages | |
| Murutic (Nonukan Tidong, Sesayap Tidong, Kalabakan) also Serudung, Indonesian/Malaysian, and English | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Banjarese, Bakumpai, Bulungan, Kutai, Murut, Lun Bawang/Lundayeh, Paser |
The Tidung speak the Tidong language, a North Bornean language.[4] The Tidong are traditionally farmers practising slash-and-burn agriculture. Some are ocean fishermen. They grow sweet potatoes, cassava, lentils, fruits, and vegetables. Their farming methods are often accused of being the main cause of forest fires in Kalimantan.
The rise of the Muslim Tidung Sultanate molded the ethnogenesis character of the Tidung people. They collectively known as a Malayised Dayak (Indonesian: Dayak berbudaya Melayu or Dayak-Melayu) people of Kalimantan similar to other native Muslim eastern coastal Borneo groups, such as the Bulungan, Berau, Kutai, Banjar, and Paser.
Nonetheless, the Tidung people maintain historical connections with the Murut community. Despite following distinct cultural practices, the Tidung and Murut share cultural affinities rooted in their shared histories and interactions within Borneo's diverse ethnic landscape.
Etymology
The term tidung in Tarakan language of the Tidung people literally means "hill" or "hill people". As with many other tribes of the Malay Archipelago, the term tidung is a collective term used to describe many closely related indigenous groups. The different groups of Tidung people describe themselves in all cases as Tidung people, however, they are summarized by modern ethnology as a common people group due to similarities in cultural and religious traditions.[5]
Settlement areas
The traditional territories of the Tidung people are at the Sembakung River, North Kalimantan and Sibuku River of their headwaters to the estuary north of Tarakan Island, Indonesia thence along the coast; south to the river-mouth of Bolongan River and northward up to Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia including Cowie Harbour. An enclave of Tidung people located at Labuk River, opposite the city of Klagan.[5]
Demographics
Language
The Tidung language spoken by the Tidung people is also part of other Murutic language, which in turn belongs to the Western Malayo-Polynesian languages.[6] The Tidung language is spoken in different dialects, namely:-[7]
Writing system
Prior to present-day Roman writing system, the Tidung people used Jawi script in their writings.
Folktales and fables
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Among the Tidung folktale includes:
- Asal-usul Orang Tidung Tengara (The origin of Tidung Tenggara people)
- Lasedne sinan pagun (The sink of Jelutong village)
- Seludon Ibenayuk (The tale of Ibenayuk)
- Si Benua dan Si Sumbing (Benua and Sumbing)
- Seludon Yaki Yamus (The tale of Four-eyed king)
- Seludon Batu Tinagad (The logged stone)
- Yaki Balak (The story of Aki Balak)
