Bajau people

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Badjao/Bajau
Bajau woman anchoring a family boat (banglo)A Bajau settlement in the Philippines
Total population
At least 470,000, in the Philippines; At least 410,000 in Sabah, Malaysia;[1] Unknown in other countries in Indonesia & Southeast Asian region.
Regions with significant populations
 Philippines
(Sulu Archipelago, Zamboanga Peninsula, Mindanao)
Malaysia Malaysia
(Sabah)
Indonesia Indonesia
(Kalimantan, Madura, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi)
Brunei Brunei
elsewhere
Languages

Sama–Bajaw languages,[2] Chabacano, Malay,
Bahasa Sug, Bahasa Indonesia, English
Religion

Sunni Islam (majority),
Folk Islam, Animism, Christianity
Related ethnic groups

Tausug, Yakan
Orang Laut, other Moros,
Malays, Orang Laut, Cham
other Austronesian peoples

The Bajau (pron.: /ˈbædʒɔː/, also spelled Badjao, Bajaw, Bajao, Bajo, Badjau, or Badjaw), are an indigenous ethnic group of Maritime Southeast Asia. Bajau continue to live a seaborne lifestyle, making use of small wooden sailing vessels (such as the perahu and vinta). They are also known as Sama or Samal.

The Bajau are traditionally from the islands of the Sulu Archipelago, as well as parts of the coastal areas of Mindanao and northern Borneo. In the last fifty years, many of the Filipino Bajau have migrated to neighboring Malaysia and the northern Philippines, due to the continuing conflict in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Currently they are the second largest ethnic group in the state of Sabah, making up 13.4%[1] of the total population. Groups of Bajau have also migrated to Sulawesi and Kalimantan in Indonesia, although figures of their exact population are unknown.[3]

Bajau have sometimes been referred to as the Sea Gypsies, although the term has been used to encompass a number of non-related ethnic groups with similar traditional lifestyles, such as the Moken of the Burmese-Thai Mergui Archipelago and the Orang Laut of southeastern Sumatra and the Riau Islands of Indonesia. The modern outward spread of the Bajau from older inhabited areas seems to have been associated with the development of sea trade in sea cucumber (trepang).

Contents

Term [edit]

Like the term Kadazan-dusun, Bajau is a collective term, used to describe several closely related indigenous groups. These Bajau groups also blend culturally with the Sama groups into what is most properly called the Sama–Bajau people. Historically the term "Sama" was used to describe the more land-oriented and settled Sama–Bajau groups, while "Bajau" was used to describe the more sea-oriented, boat-dwelling, nomadic groups. Even these distinctions are fading as the majority of Bajaus have long since abandoned boat living, most for Sama–style piling houses in the coastal shallows. Today, the greatest feature distinguishing the "Bajau" from the "Sama" is their poverty.

The Sama–Bajau peoples speak some ten languages of the Sama–Bajau subgroup of the Western Malayo-Polynesian language family.[4]

History [edit]

The origin of the word Bajau is not clear cut. It is generally accepted that these groups of people can be termed Bajau, though they never call themselves Bajau. Instead, they call themselves with the names of their tribes, usually the place they live or place of origin. They accept the term Bajau because they realize that they share some vocabulary and general genetic characteristic such as in having darker skin, although the Simunuls appear to be an exception in having fairer skin.

A Bajau flotilla in Lahad Datu, Malaysia

British administrators in Sabah, labeled the Sama as Bajau and put Bajau in their birth certificates as their race. During their time in Malaysia, some have started labeling themselves as their ancestors called themselves, such as Simunul. For political reasons and to ensure easy access to the Malaysian special privileges granted to Malays, many have started calling themselves Malay. This is especially true for recent Filipino migrants.

A Bajau child in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines, diving for coins thrown by tourists into the water.

For most of their history, the Bajau have been a nomadic, seafaring people, living off the sea by trading and subsistence fishing.[5] The boat dwelling Bajau see themselves as non-aggressive people. They kept close to the shore by erecting houses on stilts, and traveled using lepa-lepa, handmade boats which many lived in.[5] Although historically originating from the southern Philippine coasts, Sabahan Sama legend narrates that they had originated from members of the royal guard of the Johor Sultanate, after the fall of the Malay Malacca Empire, who settled along the east coast of Borneo after being driven there by storms. Another version goes that a princess from Johor, Malaysia was washed away by a flood. In his grief her father ordered his subjects to sea to return only when they had found his daughter.

However, there are traces that Sama people came from Riau Archipelago especially Lingga Island more than 300 years ago. It is believed by some that the migration process of Samah to North West Borneo took place more than 100 years earlier, starting from trade with the Empire of Brunei. (note connection to bride being sent from Johor to Sulu and then being kidnapped by the Prince of Brunei) With the fall of the legitimate Sultan of Johor due to being overthrown by Bugis conqueror, Sama people fled to the west coast of North Borneo where they felt safe to live under the protection of the Brunei Sultanate. That's why native Kadazan-Dusun call Sama people as "tuhun(people of) Sama" or "tulun(people of) Sama" in their dialects, the form of recognition before western civilization found Borneo. It was believed that Sama people are not from the royalty of the Sultanate, but loyal workers, craftsmen, boat builders and farmers that fled from cruelty of ethnic cleansing in chaotic Johor during aggression of the Bugis taking over the throne of Johor.

A Bajau village in Omadal Island, Sabah
Bajau woman and children

Today the number of Bajau who are born and live primarily at sea is diminishing, partially due to hotly debated government programs which have moved Bajau on to the mainland.[5] Currently, there exists a huge settlement of Filipino Bajau in Pulau Gaya, off the Sabah coast. Many of them are illegal immigrants on the Malaysian island. With the island as a base, they frequently enter Sabah and find jobs as manual laborers.

Discrimination of Bajau (particularly from the dominant Tausūg people who have historically viewed them as 'inferior' and less specifically from the Christian Filipinos)[6] and the continuing violence in Muslim Mindanao, have driven many Bajau to begging, or to migrate out of the country. They usually resettle in Malaysia and Indonesia, where they are less discriminated against.[7][8]

Demographics and religion [edit]

The various Bajau sub-groups vary culturally, linguistically, and religiously. Religion can vary from a strict adherence to Sunni Islam, forms of folk Islam, to animistic beliefs in spirits and ancestor worship. There is a small minority of Christians.

Sub-groups [edit]

Commonly, many sub-groups of Badjao are named after the place or island they live-in for many years. Even though they are called Bajau, each sub-groups has their own unique language, cultures and tradition. However, certain sub-groups are able to understand the languages of other sub-groups. For example, some Bajau understand the Bajau Ubian language, and the Bajau Ubian and Simunul in Sabah are able to understand and speak the Tausug language called the Suluk language in Sabah. The general terms for the native languages of the Bajau is Вahasa Вajau or Sinama.

Lists of Bajau sub-groups:

  1. Ubian – Originate from the island South Ubian in Tawi-Tawi, Philippines and make up the largest Bajau sub-group in Sabah. They reside in sizable minorities living around the towns of Kudat and Semporna in Sabah, Malaysia.
  2. Bannaran - Another subgroup of Bajau originated from Bannaran Island in Tawi-Tawi. Mostly found in Kudat, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau.
  3. Sama - Commonly known as Bajau Kota Belud, because most of them live in or near area of Kota Belud, Sabah. This is actually a misnomer as they can be found all over the west coast of the state, and not just in Kota Belud. They call themselves Sama, not Bajau and their neighbours, the Dusuns also call them Sama, not Bajau. British administrators originally defined them as Bajau.
  4. Samah/Sama Sulawesi Selatan' (Malaysia)[9]
  5. Simunul – Simunul people can be found at Kampung Bokara, Sandakan, Semporna and Lahad Datu Towns. Simunul is an island in Tawi-Tawi where many Sama Simunul are still found and are the majority there. They are known among the Bajau group for having fair skin.
Colorful non-traditional designs on the vinta boats of the Samal people from Samal Island, Philippines. Traditionally, vintas feature distinctive vertical bands and triangles of bright colors
  1. Samal (Philippines, Malaysia) – A group native to the Philippines, a large number are now residing around the coasts of northern Sabah, though many have also migrated north to the seas around the Visayas and southern Luzon. The Samal are sometimes considered distinct from the other Bajau.[8][10] They are the largest single group of Bajau.[11]
  2. Bajau Suluk - This sub-group, of mixed heritage Bajau and Tausug, live mostly in Kudat, and have origins in the Philippines, hence, although living among Malay peoples for a substantial part of their history, are also able to converse in the Tausug and Samal languages.
  3. Tando' Bas - This sub-group was rarely found in Sabah before 1970s. They had recently migrated to Sabah from a place called Tando Bas in the Philippines.
  4. Ungus Matata - This sub-group was rarely found in Sabah before 1970s. They had recently migrated to Sabah from a place called Ungus Matata in the Philippines.
  5. Tolen - This sub-group was found only at Bum-bum island, in Semporna, Sabah. No trace of them anywhere else even in the Philippines.
  6. Pala'u or Bajau Laut - The word Pala'u in Bajau means boat-dwelling, but is by many Bajau Laut considered derogatory, why they prefer the term Bajau Laut. This sub-group originally lived on boats all the time but almost all have taken to living on land in the Philippines. In Malaysia the boat-dwelling culture has been retained by some, but many others have built homes on land.
  7. Tabawan (Philippines, Malaysia) – This sub-group was rarely found in Sabah before 1970s. They have recently migrated to Sabah from an island called Tabawan, Tawi-tawi, Philippines. They are now numerous in Sabah.
  8. Banguingui or Balangingi Samal (Philippines, Malaysia) – Native to the Philippines, where the majority still live. This sub-group was rarely found in Sabah before 1970s. Some have recently migrated to Sabah. The Balanguingui were once slavers and pirates during the 16th to 19th centuries, capturing people from other nearby ethnic groups and often integrating them into their own culture.[12]
  9. Sikubung – People from this sub-group were rare in Sabah before 1970s. They have recently migrated to Sabah.

In Sarawak there are a number of Iban named Bajau (e.g. Beransah Bajau, Hillary Bajau)

Religion [edit]

Main article: Bajau religion
Religions of Bajaus [13]
Religion Percent
Islam
  
 95.26%
Christianity
  
 0.52%
Folk religion / Other religions
  
 0.08%
No religion / Unknown
  
 4.14%

Claims to religious piety and learning are an important source of individual prestige among the coastal Bajau, and the title of salip/sarip (descendants of the Prophet Muhammad) are shown special honor in the local community. Some of the Bajau lack mosques and must rely on the shore-based communities such as those of the more Islamized Аrabic or Malay peoples. The Ubian Bajau, due to their nomadic marine lifestyle, are much less adherent to orthodox Islam, and practice more of a syncretic folk hybrid, revering local sea spirits, known in Islamic terminology as Jinn.

Culture [edit]

The Regatta Lepa festival in Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia. Lepa means "boat" in the dialect of east coast Bajau. In this festival, Bajau people decorate their boats with colorful flags.

Many Bajaus of the east coast retain their seaborne lifestyle, together with remnants of traditional pre-Islamic beliefs. Traditional Bajau communities may have a dukun (i.e. a shaman) and may adhere to taboos concerning the treatment of the sea and other cultural aspects. An example of this is the offering of thanks to the Omboh Dilaut, the God of the Sea, whenever a particularly large catch is brought in. The east coast Sabah Bajau are also famous for the annual Semporna Regatta.

Among the boat-dwellers in particular, community spirit mediums are consulted at least once a year for a public séance and nightly trance dancing. In times of epidemics, the mediums are also called upon to remove illness causing spirits from the community. They do this by setting a "spirit boat" adrift in the open sea beyond the village or anchorage.

It has been suggested by some researchers that Bajau people's visits to Arnhem Land gave rise to the accounts of the mysterious Baijini people in the myths of Australia's Yolngu Aboriginals.[14]

Bajau fishermen make use of wooden sailing vessels known as perahu lambo for voyages to the Timor and Arafura seas.[15] The construction and launch of these craft are ritualized, and the vessels are believe to have a spirit (Sumanga').[15] Under a 1974 Memorandum of Understanding, "Indonesian traditional fishermen" are allowed to fish within the Exclusive Economic Zone of Australia, which includes traditional fishing grounds of Bajau fishers. However, fishing in these areas has led to concern about overfishing[16] and destruction of Bajau vessels.[15]

Bajaus are also noted for their exceptional abilities in free-diving, with physical adaptations that enable them to see better and dive longer underwater.[17] Some Bajau intentionally rupture their eardrums at an early age in order to facilitate diving and hunting at sea. Many older Bajau are therefore hard of hearing.[5][17]

The rehabilitation of a traditional Bajau house in the Heritage Village of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

The West Coast Bajau are expert horsemen – this is their main claim to fame in Malaysia, where horse riding has never been widespread anywhere else. Bajau people are also well known for weaving and needlework skills.

Bajau have a unique type of dance called the Pangigal. It is common in wedding ceremonies for native communities throughout Malaysia and the Philippines. This dance is most famously danced to the music Daling-daling. Numerous Music Videos of the Pangigal songs and dances have been produced in Malaysia and distributed throughout Sabah and the Philippines.

Notable Bajau [edit]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b "Monthly Statistical Bulletin, January 2007: Sabah", Department of Statistics Malaysia, Sabah. ISSN 18231659
  2. ^ Kauman Sama Online. "What Language do the Badjao Speak?". Retrieved 2013-02-23. 
  3. ^ Lotte Kemkens. Living on Boundaries: The Orang Bajo of Tinakin Laut, Indonesia (Social Anthropology Bachelor's thesis). University of Utrecht. http://igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/student-theses/2010-0303-200346/Kemkens%20Lotte.pdf. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
  4. ^ Clifford Sather, "The Bajau Laut", Oxford U. Press, 1997
  5. ^ a b c d "The last of the sea nomads". The Guardian. September 18, 2010. Archived from the original on September 18, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2010. 
  6. ^ Mellie Leandicho Lopez (2006). A handbook of Philippine folklore. UP Press. p. 50. ISBN 971-542-514-3. 
  7. ^ Twilight of the Sea People, Vol. III (2), Philippine Center of Investigative Journalism, June 2001, retrieved March 21, 2011 
  8. ^ a b Edsel L. Beja (2006). Negotiating globalization in Asia. Ateneo de Manila University Press. p. 286. ISBN 971-0426-01-X. 
  9. ^ Manusia Bugis, Christian Pelras, ISBN 979-99395-0-X, translated from "The Bugis", Christian Pelras, 1996, Oxford:Blackwell Publishers Ltd.
  10. ^ Harry Nimmo (1972). The sea people of Sulu: a study of social change in the Philippines. Chandler Pub. Co. ISBN 0-8102-0453-3. 
  11. ^ "Samal – Orientation". Countries and Their Cultures. Retrieved June 17, 2011. 
  12. ^ James Francis Warren (2007). The Sulu zone, 1768–1898: the dynamics of external trade, slavery, and ethnicity in the transformation of a Southeast Asian maritime state. NUS Press. p. 184. ISBN 9971-69-386-0. 
  13. ^ "2010 Population and Housing Census of Malaysia" (in Malay and English). Department of Statistics, Malaysia. Retrieved 2012-06-17.  p. 107
  14. ^ Berndt, Ronald Murray; Berndt, Catherine Helen (1954). Arnhem Land: its history and its people. Volume 8 of Human relations area files: Murngin. F. W. Cheshire. p. 34 
  15. ^ a b c Stacey, Natasha (2007). Boats to burn: Bajo fishing activity in the Australian fishing zone. Canberra, Australia: ANU E Press. ISBN 978-1-920942-95-3. 
  16. ^ Field, I.C., Meekan, M.G., Buckworth, R.C., Bradshaw, C.J.A. (2009). "Protein mining the world’s oceans: Australasia as an example of illegal expansion-and-displacement fishing". Fish and Fisheries 10: 323. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2979.2009.00325.x. 
  17. ^ a b Megan Lane (January 12, 2011), What freediving does to the body, BBC News, archived from the original on March 18, 2011, retrieved March 21, 2011 

Further reading [edit]

  • François-Robert Zacot (2009). "Peuple nomade de la mer ,les Badjos d'Indonésie", éditions Pocket, collection Terre Humaine, Paris

External links [edit]

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