Almost 130-Year-Old Sunhat Looted By The British Has Been Returned To Sarawak

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A repatriation ceremony was held at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford on Monday, 4 November.

The intricately woven bamboo hat, also known as the Sa'ung, belonging to Sarawak's indigenous Kenyah-Badeng tribe is believed to be about 128 years old, reported in The Malaysian Insight. The hat, adorned with motifs symbolising nobility and protection from evil, was reportedly seized by the White Rajahs (Brooke family) in the late 19th century due to the tribe's failure to pay taxes.

The sunhat was acquired by Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford in 1923, but was never displayed for public viewing.

In a Facebook post, the Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Ministry called this repatriation a "restoration of history, dignity, and identity for the Kenyah-Badeng community."

During their 100-year reign in Sarawak, the White Rajahs often conducted military expeditions against the indigenous population. This involved the massacre of women and children, the burning of longhouses, and the widespread looting of belongings, resulting in thousands of deaths and displacement.

The Sa'ung is just one of approximately 3,000 artifacts from Borneo held by the Pitt Rivers Museum, many of which were sourced from the Brooke family's private collection.

"Given the history of parts of our collections and their entanglements in military violence and oppression, this work of redress is a crucial part of the work we want and need to do, as it helps to restore trust and understanding, and builds hope for a future of peace through partnership," said Pitt Rivers museum director Professor Dr Laura Van Broekhoven.

Exhibited at the Borneo Cultures Museum in Kuching, the Sa'ung marks Sarawak's second successful repatriation, following the return of the Niah bone fragments to the Sarawak Museum in 2020.