An engagement with "modernity" ? : becoming Christian in the Kelabit Highlands of central Borneo

Abstract

This paper highlights why and how the Kelabit become Christian in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak. It explores this process of 'becoming Christian' through two fundamental Kelabit concepts: iyuk and doo-ness. While the former refers to the nation of movement and specifically to status mobility, the later embodies the notion of good-ness, success and better well being, or rather the qualities required to constitute a good person such as knowledge, endurance, perseverance, self discipline, hospitality and strength. An insight into what iyuk and doo-ness constitute among the Kelabit is necessary for understanding Kelabit modes of on-going engagement with ideas and institutions which originated from the world beyond the Highlands.