The Last Traditional Potter of Kalimantan (Borneo)

La dernière potière de Bornéo indonésien

Overview

The Leppo’ Ké, a subgroup of the Kenyah, an important Dayak set of people scattered in Borneo across the provinces of East and North Kalimantan (Indonesia) and the state of Sarawak (Malaysia), live in the district of Bahau Hulu, on the uppermost Bahau River, a tributary of the mighty Kayan River. The film was shot in Long Pengayan hamlet, at Apau Ping, the last settlement on the Bahau, and home to Oko’ (Grand-Mother) Asung Kiring. In the past, all Kenyah Leppo’ Ké women were potters, but today this is a dying craft, which is considered dirty work and therefore quite unpopular.