The Tidung, Tidong (
Jawi: تيدوڠ) are a native group originating from northeastern part of
Borneo
Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and ea ...
and surrounding small islands. They live on both sides of the border of
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
and
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
.
Tidung speak Tidong language, a
North Bornean language. The Tidong are traditionally farmers practising
slash-and-burn
Slash-and-burn agriculture is a farming method that involves the cutting and burning of plants in a forest or woodland to create a field called a swidden. The method begins by cutting down the trees and woody plants in an area. The downed veget ...
agriculture. Some are ocean fishermen. They grow
sweet potatoes,
cassava
''Manihot esculenta'', commonly called cassava (), manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America. Although a perennial plant, cassava is extensively cultivated ...
,
lentils
The lentil (''Lens culinaris'' or ''Lens esculenta'') is an edible legume. It is an annual plant known for its lens-shaped seeds. It is about tall, and the seeds grow in pods, usually with two seeds in each. As a food crop, the largest produ ...
, 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
Ethnogenesis (; ) is "the formation and development of an ethnic group".
This can originate by group self-identification or by outside identification.
The term ''ethnogenesis'' was originally a mid-19th century neologism that was later introd ...
character of the Tidung people. They collectively known as a
Malayalised Dayak (Indonesian: ''Dayak berbudaya Melayu'' or ''Dayak-Melayu'') people of Kalimantan similar to other native Muslim coastal Borneo groups, such as the Bulungan, Kutainese, Banjarese and Paserese people. Most Tidungese people perceived themselves as Malay due to the stronger self-affiliation with the
Malay-Muslim identity.
Etymology
The term ''tidung'' in
Tarakan language of the Tidung people literally means "hill" or "
hill people
Hill people, also referred to as mountain people, is a general term for people who live in the hills and mountains.
This includes all rugged land above and all land (including plateaus) above elevation.
The climate is generally harsh, with s ...
". 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.
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
Tarakan is an island and the largest city of the Indonesian province of North Kalimantan. The island city is located in northern Borneo, midway along the coast of the province. The city boundaries are co-extensive with the island (including a cou ...
,
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
thence along the coast; south to the river-mouth of Bolongan River and northward up to
Tawau
Tawau (, Jawi: , ), formerly known as Tawao, is the capital of the Tawau District in Sabah, Malaysia. It is the third-largest city in Sabah, after Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan. It is located on the Semporna Peninsula in the southeast coast of t ...
,
Sabah
Sabah () is a state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah borders the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and the North Kalimantan province of Indonesia to the south. The Federal Territory o ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
including Cowie Harbour. An enclave of Tidung people located at Labuk River, opposite the city of Klagan.
Demographics
For
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
in the state of
Sabah
Sabah () is a state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah borders the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and the North Kalimantan province of Indonesia to the south. The Federal Territory o ...
, the census of 2010 (Census 2010) indicates a population of 28,515 Tidong.
Whereas, Tidung people in other states have no statistical relevance.
For
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, the population of the Tidung people is estimated about 27,000 in the year of 2007.
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
The Western Malayo-Polynesian (WMP) languages, also known as the Hesperonesian languages, are a paraphyletic grouping of Austronesian languages that includes those Malayo-Polynesian languages that do not belong to the Central–Eastern Malayo-P ...
. The
Tidung language is spoken in different dialects, namely:-
*
Nonukan, Penchangan, Sedalir, Tikal, Tarakan,
Sesayap and Sibuku dialect in
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
* Tarakan and
Sesayap dialect in
Sabah
Sabah () is a state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah borders the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and the North Kalimantan province of Indonesia to the south. The Federal Territory o ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
Writing system
Prior to present-day Roman writing system, the Tidung people used
Jawi script
Jawi (; ace, Jawoë; Kelantan-Pattani: ''Yawi''; ) is a writing system used for writing several languages of Southeast Asia, such as Acehnese, Banjarese, Kerinci, Maguindanaon, Malay, Minangkabau, Tausūg, and Ternate. Jawi is based ...
in their writings.
Folktales and fables
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)
References
{{Portal bar, Malaysia, Indonesia, , Philippines, Society
Ethnic groups in Indonesia
Ethnic groups in Sabah
Ethnic groups in Palawan
Muslim communities of Indonesia
Dayak people