The Bruneian Spirit: Our Unique Identity And Culture

Brunei, officially known as Brunei Darussalam, is a small country in Southeast Asia with a rich history and a unique culture. With a population of just under half a million people, it is an Islamic nation with a Malay monarchy and a strong sense of national identity. So, what does it mean to be a true Bruneian? This question delves into the heart of Bruneian culture, values, and what distinguishes this nation from its neighbours. It explores how Bruneians perceive themselves and their place in the world, shaped by their language, traditions, and shared experiences.

Language and food

Language

Standard Malay is the official language of Brunei, and it is also the national language as specified in the 1959 Constitution. Malay is used in formal domains such as teaching and official speeches. However, the local dialect, Brunei Malay, is the most widely spoken language in the country, with about 266,000 speakers. It is used in informal settings, such as between friends and in local shops. Brunei Malay is mutually intelligible with Standard Malay, sharing about 84% of its words.

English is also widely spoken in Brunei and is used in business and official documents. It is the language of instruction in schools for most subjects from the fourth year of primary school onwards. The language of the courts is mainly English, and all school children have had substantial exposure to the language.

Arabic is the language of the Quran and is used by Islamic scholars in Brunei. It is taught in schools, particularly religious schools, and all Muslim children are required by law to attend an Ugama School for three hours, five days a week, from ages 7 to 15. Arabic is also used to write Malay, using the Arabic-based script Jawi.

Other languages spoken in Brunei include Chinese varieties such as Hokkien, Cantonese, and Hakka, as well as indigenous minority languages like Tutong, Belait, Dusun, Bisaya, and Murut. However, these minority languages are under threat of extinction due to the expanding use of Standard Malay and Brunei Malay.

Food

Bruneian cuisine is heavily influenced by the cuisines of countries with which it has strong ties, including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, China, and India. The national dish of Brunei is Ambuyat, a flavourless sago that is usually dipped in a sauce called cacah. It is often served with other dishes, such as ikan goreng (fried fish), pakis or biring (vegetables), hati buyah (cow's lungs), beef rendang (slow-cooked beef stew), and more. To eat Ambuyat, a special utensil called candas, made from bamboo, is used.

Another popular dish is Nasi Katok, which translates to "rice knock." It consists of a bowl of rice, a piece of chunky fried chicken, and sambal (dip), which can be normal or spicy. This meal is one of the cheapest in Brunei, costing around BND1.50 or even BND1 at certain stalls.

Brunei also has a variety of street food, including satay, which is meat on a stick barbequed on a grill. Choices of meat include chicken, lamb, beef, and occasionally rabbit, and it is typically dipped in peanut sauce.

A popular breakfast option is roti, which comes in different forms such as roti kuning (yellow bread) and roti canai (Indian-style flatbread). Roti can be filled with cheese, meat, or kahwin, a sweet mixture of coconut milk, jam, sugar, and butter.

For dessert, a local creation called Ais Batu Campur (ABC) is a favourite, mirroring similar desserts in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It is made from shaved ice and commonly contains sago pearls, red beans, grass jelly, and corn, and can be drizzled with syrup.

Bruneians also have a sweet tooth, and one of their sought-after desserts is a sponge cake filled with chocolate ganache or Nutella. They also enjoy traditional snacks like kuih mor, small, soft, white balls of biscuit made with flour, oil, and powdered sugar, which are often handed out as gifts at Malay weddings or other gatherings.

Brunei has a diverse range of culinary options, reflecting its cultural influences and offering something for everyone's taste.

Religion

Brunei is a secular country with Islam as its official religion. The country has a rich history of religious diversity, with archaeological evidence suggesting that it participated in the Maritime Jade Road, a trading network that existed for 3,000 years. During this period, the settlement of Vijayapura, a vassal state of the Buddhist Srivijaya empire, flourished in the 7th century. Brunei was also influenced by Hindu and Buddhist rulers before the rise of the Muslim Bolkiah dynasty in the 15th century.

The country's conversion to Islam is a significant turning point in its history. It began when the Sultanate of Brunei converted to Islam and became a Hashemite state by allowing the Arab Emir of Mecca, Sharif Ali, to become its third sultan. By the 16th century, Islam was firmly established in Brunei, with the construction of one of its biggest mosques. This religious transformation led to the adoption of a legal system combining English common law and Islamic jurisprudence, including Sharia law.

While Islam is the predominant religion, Brunei also has a significant Christian population, with approximately 6.7% of the population practising Christianity. Additionally, around 6.3% of the population follows Buddhism, and there is a small percentage of followers of indigenous religions. The right to freedom of religion is guaranteed by the 1959 Constitution, allowing non-Muslim faiths to be practised and celebrated within private residences and places of worship.

History

The history of Brunei, officially known as Brunei Darussalam, is a story of a small Southeast Asian country with a rich cultural and political past. Located on the island of Borneo, Brunei has a long history that dates back to the early 15th century when it was founded by Awang Alak Betatar, who became known as Sultan Muhammad Shah. The name "Brunei" is believed to have originated from the exclamation "Baru nah" ("that's it!") made by the sultan when he first arrived at the Brunei River estuary.

During its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Bruneian Empire was a powerful maritime state with control over most of Borneo and the surrounding areas. However, the 19th century marked the beginning of the empire's decline, with territories being ceded to foreign powers. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate, and it remained under British rule until it gained its independence in 1984.

The country's economy has traditionally been reliant on petroleum and natural gas, with the discovery of oil in 1929 playing a significant role in its development. Today, Brunei is known for its wealth and high standard of living, ranking "very high" on the Human Development Index.

Throughout its history, Brunei has been governed by a monarchy, with the current sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, ruling since 1967. The country's political system combines English common law with Islamic jurisprudence, and the sultan holds full executive authority. Brunei's culture is heavily influenced by Malay and Islamic traditions, and the country is known for its unique blend of modern and traditional values.

Culture

The culture of Brunei is predominantly Malay, reflecting its ethnicity, with heavy influences from Islam. Brunei's culture is considered more conservative than that of Indonesia and Malaysia. Influences on Bruneian culture come from the Malay cultures of the Malay Archipelago. There have been four periods of cultural influence: animist, Hindu, Islamic, and Western. Islam had a very strong influence, and was adopted as Brunei's ideology and philosophy.

As a Sharia country, the sale and public consumption of alcohol are banned. Non-Muslims are allowed to bring in a limited amount of alcohol from overseas for their own private consumption.

The Bruneian Malay dialect is rather divergent from standard Malay and the rest of the Malay dialects, being about 84% cognate with standard Malay, and is mostly mutually intelligible with it. English is widely used as a business and official language and is spoken by a majority of the population in Brunei. It is used in business as a working language and as the language of instruction from primary to tertiary education.

Chinese languages are also widely spoken, and the Chinese minority in Brunei speaks a number of varieties of Chinese. Arabic is the religious language of Muslims and is taught in schools, particularly religious schools, and also in institutes of higher learning.

Governance

The country's legal system is based on English common law and Islamic jurisprudence, with the latter taking precedence in some cases. Brunei has a parliament, but elections have not been held since 1962, and the country has technically been under martial law since the 1962 Brunei Revolt.

In terms of foreign relations, Brunei has traditionally maintained close ties with the United Kingdom and became a member of the Commonwealth immediately upon gaining independence in 1984. The country is also a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the East Asia Summit, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, and ASEAN.

Brunei's foreign policy is based on mutual respect for territorial sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, while also promoting peace, security, and stability in the region.

Frequently asked questions