Origin and History of ARAWAKAR

Description:

The name 'Rawaqar' is derived from the Arabic word 'Rawaq' meaning 'to scratch'. The name may have originated from the practice of some nomadic tribes in the area of present-day Sarawak scratching the head of a freshly killed animal, in order to claim the animal's blood as their own. Alternatively, the name may have originated from the Malay word 'rawa' meaning 'a thorny shrub'. The Rawaqar people are of Austronesian origin and are believed to have migrated from the Philippines or Indonesia. They are a nomadic people and are believed to have migrated to Sarawak in the late 19th century. There are approximately 10,000 Rawaqar people living in Sarawak. The Rawaqar people are a Muslim people and their religion is Islam. They speak the Rawaqar language which is a member of the Malayo-Polynesian family of languages. The Rawaqar people are a matrilineal society and their customs are based on their traditional Austronesian culture. They are known for their traditional headhunting practices which are now illegal in Sarawak.