Lekaq Kidau Cultural Village

Exploring the Traces of Dayak Kenyah Civilization in Lekaq Kidau Cultural Village

Located in Sebulu District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan, Lekaq Kidau Cultural Village stands as the last bastion for the preservation of Dayak Kenyah traditions. This village is not merely an administrative settlement but a living museum that blends the daily lives of its community with efforts to conserve ancestral values. As one of the premier cultural tourism destinations in East Kalimantan, Lekaq Kidau offers an immersive experience for visitors to understand the philosophy, art, and social order of the still-pure Dayak community.

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The Existence of Lamin Adat: Center of Life and Rituals

The heart of Lekaq Kidau Cultural Village is the Lamin Adat, or longhouse. This magnificent Ulin wood structure is not just a physical edifice but a symbol of unity and kinship. Within this Lamin, various cultural activities are centered. Distinctive Dayak Kenyah carvings, dominated by creeping plant motifs (taring) and human figures, adorn the supporting pillars, narrating family lineages and the relationship between humans and nature.

The Lamin in Lekaq Kidau functions as a public space where customary deliberations, guest welcoming ceremonies, and religious rituals are held. Visitors can witness how the social structure of the Dayak Kenyah community remains relevant in the modern era, where the customary chief still plays a crucial role in maintaining community harmony.

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Performing Arts: Narratives of Movement and Sape Melodies

Lekaq Kidau Cultural Village is widely known for its ability to preserve traditional performing arts. One of the most prominent icons is the Tari Kancet Lasan. This dance depicts the majesty of the Hornbill, a bird revered by the Dayak people. Male dancers, adorned in traditional attire complete with hornbill feathers in their hands, perform movements that mimic the flapping wings and aerial agility of the bird.

Additionally, there is the Tari Datun Julud, a communal dance performed by Dayak Kenyah women as a symbol of gratitude for abundant harvests or the arrival of esteemed guests. The uniqueness of this dance lies in its graceful yet powerful hand movements, accompanied by the strumming of the Sape strings.

The Sape, a traditional Dayak plucked instrument, is an inseparable element of Lekaq Kidau. In this village, visitors can not only listen to its meditative melodies but also witness the process of Sape making from selected wood. The musicians in Lekaq Kidau are known for their high skill in composing melodies that can transport listeners into the mystical and serene atmosphere of the Kalimantan rainforest.

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Crafts and the Long Ear Tradition

One of the most unique and rare aspects still found in Lekaq Kidau Cultural Village is the tradition of Telingaan Aruu, or long ears. Although this tradition is slowly fading among the younger generation, there are still several elderly women in Lekaq Kidau who maintain elongated earlobes adorned with silver or copper weights (belaong). Their presence serves as a living historical testament to past beauty standards and social status within the Dayak Kenyah culture.

In the realm of crafts, the people of Lekaq Kidau are highly skilled in making beads (anajat) and rattan weaving. The beads in this village have specific color patterns—dominated by yellow, red, and black—each carrying symbolic meaning. Visitors can participate in short workshops to learn how to string beads into necklaces, bracelets, or headbands (sa'ong). Furthermore, the craft of weaving wide-brimmed hats (beluko) adorned with hand-painted motifs serves as a distinctive souvenir, showcasing the exceptional meticulousness of the local artisans.

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Education Programs and Community Involvement

Lekaq Kidau Cultural Village actively runs educational programs for the younger generation through informal customary schools. Here, children are taught their mother tongue, traditional dance techniques, and how to play musical instruments from an early age. This is done to ensure that the cultural baton is passed on without interruption.

The community in Lekaq Kidau is also very open to academic research and education for tourists. The "Live-In" program allows visitors to stay with local families, participate in farming activities (mountain farming), and learn the philosophy of "Belawang" (mutual cooperation). The collective involvement of the community in managing this cultural village ensures that the economic benefits of tourism directly contribute to the maintenance of village facilities and the welfare of its residents.

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Celebrations and Cultural Festivals

The peak of a visit to Lekaq Kidau Cultural Village usually occurs during the post-harvest celebration, known as the Mecaq Undat tradition. This festival is a form of gratitude to the Almighty for the bounty of the earth. All villagers gather to pound rice together in large wooden mortars, which is then processed into traditional delicacies.

During the festival, the village atmosphere transforms into a giant stage for arts. Grand dance performances, traditional sports competitions like blowgun shooting (pasi), and ceremonies for bestowing customary titles upon honored guests are the main agenda. This festival is not just entertainment for tourists but a ritual to strengthen the collective identity of the Dayak Kenyah people in Kutai Kartanegara.

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Conservation and Role in Cultural Development

The Kutai Kartanegara Regency Government designated Lekaq Kidau as a cultural village with a strategic objective: to preserve cultural diversity amidst the currents of modernization and massive mining industries in East Kalimantan. This village acts as a cultural lung, providing balance to the physical development in its surrounding areas.

Preservation efforts in Lekaq Kidau include architectural conservation, protection of sacred motifs from misuse, and oral documentation of the Dayak Kenyah migration history from the Apo Kayan region towards the downstream Mahakam area. By maintaining its cultural authenticity, Lekaq Kidau contributes significantly to enriching the national tourism treasure and strengthening Indonesia's position as a nation with extraordinary ethnic diversity.

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Conclusion: Hopes from the Banks of the Mahakam

Lekaq Kidau Cultural Village is proof that tradition and modernity can go hand in hand if there is a strong will from the community to preserve its roots. Through every strum of the Sape, every woven bead, and every step of the Hornbill dance, Lekaq Kidau whispers a message of respect for nature and ancestors. Visiting this village is not merely a geographical journey along the Mahakam River but a spiritual journey to re-understand the essence of being human in harmony with one's environment and culture. For anyone wishing to feel the authentic pulse of Dayak life, Lekaq Kidau Cultural Village is a destination that offers more than just scenery, but a deep understanding of Borneo's civilizational heritage.