Bajau peopleFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Badjao/Bajau

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(Sabah)

 Indonesia(Kalimantan, Madura, Nusa Tenggara,Sulawesi)

 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, YakanOrang Laut, other Moros,

Malays, Orang Laut, Chamother Austronesian peoples

The Bajau (pron.: / ̍ b æ dʒ ɔː / , also spelled Badjao, Bajaw, Bajao, Bajo, Badjau, or Badjaw), are

an indigenous ethnic group ofMaritime Southeast Asia. Bajau continue to live a seaborne lifestyle, making

use of small wooden sailing vessels (such as the perahuand 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 northernBorneo. 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

  [hide] 

1   Term 2   History

3   Demographics and religion

o 3.1   Sub-groups

o 3.2   Religion

o 3.3   Culture

4   Notable Bajau

5   See also

6   References

7   Further reading

8   External links

[edit]TermLike 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]

[edit]HistoryThe 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

MalayMalacca Empire, who settled along the east coast of Borneo after being driven there by storms.

Another version narrates that they were escorting the Sultan's bride, but the bride was later kidnapped by

the Sultan of Brunei. The fact that the Bajau-Sama languages belong to the Philippine branch of Malayo-

Polynesian languages would substantiate the anthropological origins of the Bajau groups to be from

thePhilippines, and put the origin legends down to the historic Malay-centric influence of Bajau culture.

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]

[edit]Demographics and religionThe 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.

[edit]Sub-groupsCommonly, 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 thevinta 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 northernSabah, 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)

[edit]ReligionMain article: Bajau religion

Religions of Bajaus [13]

Religion PercentIslam    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 orMalay 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.

[edit]Culture

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 nightlytrance 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 Baijinipeople 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