Hello! Hola! Ni hao!

Many of us are familiar with these greetings and often take them for granted. They open the floor to new relationships through standardized practices we call greetings. What happens, however, when a culture lacks these traditions? How do they enact conversation? How do they connect?

In GLCM, we prioritize learning experiences in both disciplines of relevant civil engineering sites as well as cultural learning experiences. Today, we were given the opportunity to follow along and personally experience some of the Mah Meri people’s culture. The Mah Meri people, meaning orangutan or jungle people, are a unique indigenous group native to the country of Malaysia. The group started as a nomadic tribe totaling less than 100 people. Today, there are around 2000 residents on the main island, all with varying cultures and backgrounds living in permanent homes. There was heavy British influence through the years, and they taught the native people how to cultivate crops and progress to more stable living.

As we approached the entrance of the cultural village, we quickly learned about the primitive methods of communication between members of the tribe. Without a concrete way to say hello, we were first given traditional hats made through folding and weaving leaf blades. These hats show you are an invited guest within the community. Without a phonetic language, symbols and gestures govern much of the communication.

Another important example of the Mah Meri people’s human connection is marriage. This is considered the biggest celebration within the community. Despite the primitive technology, the tribe has a very developed and distinguished cultural system.

The Mah Meri people have no god, and as a result, there is no priest or religion binding two people in marriage together. Instead, believe in a separation between the physical and spiritual bodies. As the lunar new year rolls around, there is an opportunity where a door opens between the worlds. To call the other side, a musician must play a special flute by circular breathing through the nose. The spirits are represented by a mahogany mask with exaggerated features.

As for marriage, there are 7 tests to determine the fit of two people. Without the passing of these tests, intended marriages were culturally banished. This tradition is still practiced to this day and is sacred to the people. Outsiders are not allowed to participate or wear cultural garb without permission at true weddings.

The marital tests evaluate the mental, physical, and cultural compatibility of the bride and groom. A man must first be fit to support a family through hunting ability. Hunting was traditionally done with slingshots and blow guns laced with poison. He must also be able to carve wooden figures. These figures were not only an art form, but they served a physical purpose too. Instead of a written history, each figure represents a story or event. Mental fitness is then tested with a game of the bride’s choosing. These games resemble puzzles, sometimes containing moving parts of twine and wood. Other physical fitness tests include the ability to build a house as well as decorate it. Houses were constructed with natural resources like wood, leaves, and grass. The Mah Meri people also developed 32 different patterns through folding and weaving the indigenous plants.

The last two trials both occur at the wedding itself. In front of witnesses at the wedding, the bride and groom must declare their status, claiming their virginity and disclosing any other relationships. The last step is picking the bride. Many of the community’s women are wrapped and covered by a cloth with only their hands visible. The role of the husband is then to physically choose the correct hand in marriage. Despite the group’s lack of modern technology or even definitive language, they are impressively advanced in many ways in their own right.

The Mah Meri cultural village was an amazing experience with so much more we could write about. We were lucky to be able to learn and even experience a traditional wedding ceremony. Congratulations to both families!

Blog by Max Zhu