“A long long time ago, if an Iban person had a tattoo of a bunga terung, humans and other drawings, it signified that this person is a very strong person. Like a warrior. In the olden days it would signify bravery. Now it’s just an added feature to be more handsome. [Laughs] But really, I have it tattooed to honour and maintain our tradition. Last time we would use traditional tools such as the needle to tattoo it, but now we just use modern tattoo machines. Men usually tatoo at our shoulders, legs and the back. Men are not required to have it, but some do. Women have tattoos too. If a woman has a tattoo by her arm, it would mean that she is intelligent and skilled.”
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– Humans of Kuala Lumpur went with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA Malaysia) into the jungles of Sarawak, where they were helping out underprivileged Sarawakians and orang asal in their mission to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa
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(This post was first published on July 7th 2018)
