Language
Official language is Malay. Other languages include English and Chinese (various dialects).
The Culture of Brunei Darussalam
Brunei's
culture mainly derived from the Old Malay World, which encompassed the
Malay Archipelago and from this stemmed what is known as the Malay
Civilisation. Based on historical facts, various cultural elements and
foreign civilisations had a hand in influencing the culture of this
country. Thus, the influence of culture can be traced to four dominating
periods of animism, Hinduism, Islam and the West. However, it was Islam
that managed to wound its roots deeply into the culture of Brunei hence
it became a way of life and adopted as the state's ideology and
philosophy.
Brunei Darussalam is richly endowed with cultural
heritage steadfastly maintained until today. The setting up of the Arts
and Handicraft Centre in 1975 is a living testimony as to the
preservation and the proliferation of the arts and crafts of the bygone
days which Brunei was renown for such as boat making, silver-smithing,
bronze tooling, cloth weaving as well as mat and basket weaving. Relics
and other various artistic heritage of Brunei Darussalam besides the
ones mentioned above include Malay weaponry, wood carvings, traditional
games, traditional musical instruments, 'silat' (the traditional art of
self defence) and decorative items for women. Some of these are kept in
the Brunei Museum and the Malay Technology Museum; not only for the
world to see but most importantly for today's generation to admire and
be proud of, for future generation to emulate, perhaps and something to
remind us of our forefather's natural skill, creativity and
innovativeness which over generations has been ingrained as one of the
richest traditional culture in the Malay world.
