Three Banjarese couples wearing traditional Banjarese attire (from left to right: Bagajah Gamuling Baular Lulut, Babaju Kun Galuh Pasinan, and Baamar Galung Pancar Surya) in South Kalimantan, Indonesia
Etymologically, the word Banjar is derived from terminology in the Janyawai dialect of Ma'anyan language, which rooted from Old Javanese language. It is initially used to identified the Ma'anyan, Meratus Dayak, and Ngaju people who are already "Javanized" when the Javanese people arrived in the southeastern Kalimantan regions to established their civilization. The term banjar (ꦧꦚ꧀ꦗꦂ) itself in Javanese language is a short form of a verb mbanjarke (ꦩ꧀ꦧꦚ꧀ꦗꦂꦏꦺ), which means "to separate and rearrange" literally. It is 'common knowledge' within the communities of South Kalimantan that the Banjarese people were formerly part of larger Dayak community.
History
Both Proto-Malay people (who were the ancestors of the Dayak people) and the Deutero Malays migrated to Borneo around 2500 BC. Later circa 400 AD, Sumatran brought their culture to Borneo. This cultural fusion led to the birth of the Upper Banjar language (Bahasa Banjar Hulu). In 520 AD, Sumatran immigrants formed the Buddhist Kingdom of Tanjungpuri in the present-day region of Tanjung, Tabalong.[5][6]
In 14th century, Empu Jatmika migrating from Keling, Kediri built the Hindu Kingdom of Negara Dipa by the river of Tapin.[7] Which later came to be ruled under Majapahit's Rajasa dynasty. This was the start of the Javanese-style courts in South Kalimantan. This Hindu era in South Kalimantan remained influential period in South Kalimantan's history. Negara Dipa was succeeded by the Hindu Kingdom of Negara Daha in 15th century.[8]
According to history, Prince Samudera, the rightful heir to the kingdom of Negara Daha, was forced to flee the court of because of his uncle's revolt against him.[9] He was accepted by the people of Bandar Masih (Bandar: port, Masih: Malay people). Supported by the Sultanate of Demak in Java, he formed a new Islamic Banjar Kingdom in 1526 with Bandar Masih as its capital.[10] The name of Bandar Masih was later changed to its present name Banjarmasin.
Since the 19th century, migration of the Banjarese people went as far as the east coast of Sumatra and Malaysia. In Malaysia and Singapore, Banjarnese people are classified as part of the Ethnic Malay.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Sagala urang hiput babar lik sapala awak barataan. Urang sanyaan dibari nugaraha baakal maigungakan, handak bakawalan nang mambawa sumangat sapaadingan.
Simple conversation
Here are examples of simple conversation in Banjarese language:
Banjarese
sapa ngaran pian?
English
what is your name?
Banjarese
ngaran ulun ...
English
my name is ...
Banjarese
ulun handak bailang kasidin
English
I want to visit there
Religion
Most Banjarese are adherents of Islam. Islam first arrived in the South Kalimantan region around the 15th century.[6]
The relationship between the Banjar people and the neighboring Dayaks have always been good. Some Dayaks who had converted to Islam have also assimilated into the Banjar culture and call themselves Banjar.[12] The Dayaks also think of the Banjars as their brothers and sisters. This is further strengthened by the fact there are many inter-marriages between the Banjars and the Dayaks, even among the members of the royalty. For example, Biang Lawai, a wife of a Banjar king, was of Dayak Ngaju ethnicity. This means that the Banjarese kings and queens have Dayak lineage in their blood.[13]
According to Meratus Dayak legends, Banjarese and Meratus are descendants of related brothers of Datung Ayuh or Sandayuhan who was the ancestor of Meratus Dayak, while Bambang Basiwara or Intingan who was the ancestors of Bajarese. In the legends, Sandayuhan is strong and good at fighting, while Intingan has weaker physique but greater intelligence.[14] This relationship grew strong when both ethnicities faced colonization by the Dutch in the 18th century. Some of the warriors involved in Banjar War are of Dayak ethnicity or have Dayak lineage in their blood.
^Ahmad Gazali Usman (1989). Urang Banjar Dalam Sejarah. Lambung Mangkurat University Press. ISBN979-8128-16-8.
^Mohamad Idwar Saleh (1981). Banjarmasih: Sejarah Singkat Mengenai Bangkit Dan Berkembangnya Kota Banjarmasin Serta Wilayah Sekitarnya Sampai Dengan Tahun 1950. Museum Negeri Lambung Mangkurat, Propivsi [i.e. Propinsi] Kalimantan Selatan. OCLC19940334.
^"OHCHR -". www.ohchr.org. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.