Organizer: Southeast Asia Initiative, Harvard University Asia Center

Type/Location: In Person / Cambridge, MA

Description:

Harvard University is set to host its first-ever exhibition on Sarawak, offering an intimate portrayal of everyday life in a Borneo longhouse. Titled “Lubah-Lubah: Everyday Moments in a Longhouse in Borneo,” the exhibition is curated by Damina Khaira from the university’s Department of Anthropology. The exhibition focuses on themes of aging, connection, and the beauty of the everyday; challenging common perceptions of rural and indigenous communities. This draws from fieldwork in Sarawak (2014–2018) and weaves together intimate narratives of aging and community. Committed to ethical storytelling, she aims to bring her work back to Malaysia, fostering dialogue about heritage, belonging, and decolonizing academia. Beyond Harvard, she amplifies Bornean voices, advocating for engaged scholarship that honors the people it represents.

About the Speaker:

Damina Khaira is an anthropologist, educator, and writer whose work explores cultural transmission, storytelling, and aging within Indigenous communities. As the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies and a Lecturer in Harvard’s Department of Anthropology, she bridges scholarly rigor with a deeply personal approach to ethnography. Born in Penang with Bidayuh-Iban heritage, Damina’s research is rooted in the lessons of her elders—particularly the Iban concept of lubah-lubah (slowness, presence, and care). Her photographic exhibitions and writing challenge stereotypes of rural Indigenous life, centering instead on resilience, everyday beauty, and intergenerational knowledge.