History of Dayak Maanyan

Dayak Maanyan society is a part of Dayak Kalimantan tribe that has been existed in Kalimantan Island since 242 BC. They existing is proven by sculpture and relics in Amuntai, South Kalimantan.

They ancient kingdom, Nan Sarunai is a great kingdom with social live and cultures. At that time Dayak Maanyan living in the area that in the present known as South Kalimantan Province. 

According to some histories, Dayak Maanyan is a Marine People that lives near beaches and bays headed to the sea. They also had histories written in particular ancient folk bible and relief in Borobudur Temple. The reliefs shows that Dayak Maanya people has doing travels across the sea to Madagascar, East Afrika with they traditional boat called Cadik. It was a great travels…!! Didn’t you agree..?? 

But..their great past is looking backward with their live in the present days, they live deep in the Central Kalimantan. Far away from the sea and their ancient marine lives…

Nan Sarunai was a great Dayak Kingdom that has a long histories. They ruins is caused by the expantion and war. Nan Sarunai was invated by Sriwijaya and Majapahit Kingdom. Nan Sarunai collapse at year 1355, they surrender to Majapahit Kingdom from Java Island and the new kingdom was established, this new kingdom has been known as The Negara Dipa.

War makes people have to evacuate their selves, refugees are countless..they live separately in the deep island of Central Borneo..away from their greatness of marine, social and cultures that has been their knowledges for years..

The areas that was belong to Nan Sarunai is now becoming South Kalimantan Province with the Banjar people live as a majority community. The Banjar people is mixed cultural living by Dayak Maanyan and the Malayan Sriwijaya.

Since Nan Sarunai collapsed, Dayak Maanyan lives in Central Kalimantan regions. They live by villages like Buntok, Telang, Patai, Ampah, Tampa, Dayu, Tamiang Layang, Ugang Sayu, Balawa and others.

They live uniquely depending on farming lives..they gather Latex and agricultural crops..and most of them are raising animal farms..they grows pigs, chicken and fishes. It’s a 180 degrees different living from their marine live was….

Dayak Ma'anyan lives in East Barito region and half of South Barito region, their population is about 2,80 % from the whole Central Kalimantan population.

Dayak Ma'anyan has a very unique languages their had a similarity with Madagascar language.They use their languages in few different level and grammar such as social / common conversation and original roots language.

Unfortunately, the most of young Dayak Maanyan generation is never known about the greatness of Nan Sarunai..and accept their live as they have been known today.

                                                                    Ampah Monument