Likou was how my grandmother termed the pagan Melanaus. The academics through their publication states that long ago the Melanaus called themselves A-Likou(River People). My grandmother and extended families including her father and many cousins migrated from Mukah to Kuching. They were Muslim and because their culture was almost indistinguishable from the Malays, they and subsequent generation considered as Malay in the National Census. Melanaus from the pagan era, even the Christian Melanaus have Bin and Binti to their name.
If you learn about Melanau Pagan religion which can be easily Googled, their supreme God is Allah Tajala. Besides that they have a whole different cosmology of the universe and origin of Homo Sapiens. Like the first man is not Adam, but Buah from Mukah.
According to the Likou cosmology which symbolized by the design of Serahang, consist of 15 Lapih Likou(Layers of Worlds). Our physical realm is called Likou Dagen, just like the Vikings' Midgard, plus another 7 upper worlds and 7 underworlds.
Human beings are not the only sentient beings to inhibit the middle realm. There's also Ipok-Ipok, just like the Islamic Jins or Japanese Yokai. Some Ipok are evil and others are useful for healing of the sick.
Ancient Malay and Melanau belief are easy to search on the Internet, but I can't find about my mother's people, the Bidayuh. One day I can find out more about their myth besides the story that I am descended from a crododile fairy or something.
P/s: The picture above was a guy tired after consuming something from the plastic bag.
#teammalaysia #spirituality #history #paganism
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