89.9 FM Live From The University Of New Mexico
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Iban Weavers Turn Everyday Items Into Works Of Art

Marc Romanelli, International Folk Art Market 2016
Senia Jugi

For many artists in developing communities, creativity is abundant, but cash is not.

In Sarawak on the Island of Borneo, Senia Jugi learned at a young age to weave using bamboo, bembem, arrowroot and rattan. Her ethnic group, the Iban, use baskets for all kinds of everyday tasks as well as ritual occasions. She's advanced far beyond those early years and her works have received the UNESCO-World Crafts Council Award of Excellence.

Jugi is part of the Society Atelier Sarawak and also trains other women to make fine baskets and hats, called topi tunjang, or "sky pointers." Jugi will be among the one-hundred sixty artists from 53 countries at the 14th annual Santa Fe International Folk Art Marketthis weekend. 

Megan has been a journalist for 25 years and worked at business weeklies in San Antonio, New Orleans and Albuquerque. She first came to KUNM as a phone volunteer on the pledge drive in 2005. That led to volunteering on Women’s Focus, Weekend Edition and the Global Music Show. She was then hired as Morning Edition host in 2015, then the All Things Considered host in 2018. Megan was hired as News Director in 2021.
Related Content