Sarawak Culture Sarawak Penan Culture People of the Forest : The Penan

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Musical Instruments and Songs

The Penan have their own musical instruments, apart from the ones that they have adopted from neighbouring tribes like the sape and kelorei. Musical instruments like the atui, oreng and  keringut were instruments that were played by the Penan at Ba’ Data Bila. The atui is constructed out of a long log from a species of softwood which is suspended using rattan vines  on a frame. One or two persons can play the atui beating it using the pipok atui. The atui is a significant musical instrument in the Penan community because in the olden days when hunters manage to kill a clouded leopard, the kill was announced to the whole tribal group by the rhythmic beating of the atui.

The oreng is a form of jew’s harp made out of the sliver of the stem of a sago branch. While the oreng in the present day is played when important guests come to visit the village, in the olden days,  it was played when one was sad, happy or for courting purposes. The women were the ones who usually played the oreng during courtship. It is a delicate piece of musical instrument and it takes plenty of practice to play it. The pitch of the oreng can be adjusted to the user’s preference by carving the oreng into various levels of thickness.

The keringut is a nose flute made out of bamboo normally played by men. During a courtship session, while the women play the oreng, the men will respond by playing the keringut. The  pagang  is a Penan bamboo harp which is made of bamboo. A pagang produces a melodious twanging sound when plucked.

Musical Instruments and Songs Musical Instruments and Songs

Besides musical instruments the Penan also have their form of traditional songs and lamentations. The Long Lewe’ Penan demonstrated this during the stay at Ba’ Data Bila.