Names

The “Sea Gypsies”

-Bajau, Badjau, Bajo, or Sama; each name refers to the same group of people. The Bajau, who prefer to be named Sama (meaning “we”), have many names, but they generally have to do with their aquatic culture.

- Bajau or Badjao, when translated, means “man of the seas,” and “Diluat” refers to the ocean as in “living on the sea” and is added at the end of Sama or Bajau (i.e. Sama-Diluat or Bajau- Diluat). They are not fans of the name term Badjao but they accept it because it is how the higher authorites, such as government and political officials, refer to them.

They divide themselves into two alternate categories: the land-oriented and the sea- based which are known as "sea gypsies." The land- oriented, called Sama Dilaya or Sama Diliya, are generally associated as the Sama. Meanwhile, the Sama Dilaut (sea- based) are accredited as the Bajau. Because they are all generally called the Bajau people in Malaysa, their sea or land orient seperates them: the land Bajau, or Bajau Darat, and the sea Bajau, or Bajau Laut. In indonesia, they are called Bajo.

There are many sub-groups of the Bajua tribe, specifically land- oriented, and they distinguish themselves by the name of their islands in which they reside or their dialect.

Because many of the Sama people refer to themselves by location, the indigenous group may become offended when referenced by the wrong name. To stay on the safe side it is best to call them Sama.

An offensive name, given to them by the Tausug, is Siyamal.
They are also called palauor lumaan by neighbors; the term means "Godforsaken." It was given to them due to the fact they lived on water instead of land.

Sources:
Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.
     2013 Sama. Electronic document. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/49401/Sama accesed
          March 27 2013.
Sinama.org
     2013 The Bajau, the Badjao, the Samals, and the Sama People http://sinama.org/about-sama-people/the-bajau-and-sama-people/ accessed April 8, 2013The Aquatic Ape
     N.d. Bajau Laut http://theaquaticape.org/sea-nomads/ny-sida-test/ accessed April 8, 2013
Wikipedia
     2013 Bajua People. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bajau_people accessed April 8, 2013

Background Information

The Bajau tribe, also known as the Sama people, are a nomadic group of individuals who have settled in areas of Indonesia, Malaysia, and The Philippines. The Bajau people were mostly settled on the coastlines or oceans in homes built on stilts, or often boats built by themselves.

Almost all Sama people today classify themselves as being Sunni Muslim. They believe their ancestors and themselves to be descendants of Mohammed himself. 

On one side of the Bajau tribe, the Sama Dilaut, the people have based their entire lives around the ocean and the many resources that it has to offer. But, around 200 years ago, the Sama Dilaya began to form settlements on strictly land and develop skills in agricultural practices such as farming and tending cattle.

Although not all recent Bajau people are skilled divers, the seafaring tribe known as the Sama Dilaut are known to be extremely experienced divers capable of holding their breath up to 5 minutes and descending to depths as far as 100 ft.

Sources:

Peoples of the World Foundation
     2013 The Bajau Tribe http://www.peoplesoftheworld.org/text?people=Bajau accessed April 10, 2013

Change

The location of origin and the location the tribe resides now is a part of the change that is occurring for the tribe as they moved from the island of Borneo to different areas such as Malaysia. The storytelling (folklore) of the Bajau from their heritage is not being told as it is not being passed on from one generation to another. Being a water-based community, living near the water, they are now moving closer inland and adopting the qualities and lifestyle of the land-based communities. They are also changing their prized handmade lipa-lipa boats, which are revered and thought greatly of in the culture with celebrations using the boats, to that of commercially used, mass-produced boats, most of them still use this but they are starting to change that as well.

Waddington, R.
   2003, The Bajau. The Peoples of the World Foundation, The Peoples of the World Foundation.                   Electronic Document,
      http://www.peoplesoftheworld.org/text?people=Bajau, accessed March 27.

War

The Bajau people have been fighting for independence since the 1970's and caused many of the people to leave and relocate to other nations such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. They have been going against the Muslim activists in the nation that are causing murders, kidnappings, and battling with Philippine military forces.

 
The Joshua Project
   2013 Badjao, Bajau of Philippines. Electronic Document,
http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=18873, accessed April 13.

Gender Roles

Depending on  the region, Bajau men and women participate different gender roles.  The Bajau who have migrated on land participate in farm work divide the work equally between the men and women.  The men are in charge of smithing, boat building, and interisland trade.   In comparison, the women weave and make market pottery.  On the other hand, the Bajau community who live on the water divide fishing between the men and women.  The men are in charge of gathering fish while women gather.

The Gale Group Inc
      1996  Bajau. Electronic Document,
              http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3458000757.html#, accessed April 21, 2013.



Impang, Fernando   

       2010  People-in-Country-Profile.  Electronic Document, http://www.joshuaproject.net /people-profile.php?peo3=18873&rog3=RP, accessed April 21, 2013.

Technology

The houses are all handmade by the people.  There are three different  types of houses of the Bajau.  One of the types is the Bajau who live on the coast.  Their houses are built on stilts approximately three meters above the water with a single room and kitchen.  The other houses are connected by small bridges and planks.  Another type of of house is by the Bajau who live on land which is just regular houses. the last type of house by the Bajau is houseboats.  These houseboats vary but are most typically double dugout canoes.  Each boat has the core family and sometimes a few other people.  There have been houseboats with engines in them as introduced by technology from trading with others in the region.  The term tumpuk means clusters which is used to describe households grouped together.

Technological advances have slowly changed the Bajau community since the 1950's.  The introduction of explosives, nylon netting and motorized boats have helped to improve the Bajau ways of getting food.  The actually technology used is still pretty primitve since the fishing is still done with lanterns, spears and handlines.  Diving for food is done with goggles and a handmade spear. Fish is preserved with salting or drying.

The Industrial Arts are a big factor in the Bajau community  Trade and craft production include boat building, pottery making, weaving, blacksmithing, kajang mats, roofing, pandanus mats, sunhats, shell bracelets, woodcarving, carpentry, etc.

Human Planet Series

     2011  Bajau-the real waterworld people.  BBC.  Video.  http://youtu.be/r_FUlHngPqQ, accessed April 21, 2013.

Clifford, Sather
      1996  Bajau. Electronic Document,
              http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3458000757.html#, accessed April 21, 2013.

Language

 All Bajau are Sama-Bajau speakers but not all Sama-Bajau speakers are Bajau.  Includes ten different languages which are mostly Philippines spoken by Yakan and Samal.  Eastern Indonesian speak a single language known as Indonesian Bajau.  In the eastern coastal districts of Sabah, two varieties of Bajau spoken; known as Central and Southern Sama.  West Coast Bajau spoken in northern and western districs from Kuala Penyu to Terusan.  Bajau Laut (boat nomadic) don't have the same language throughout. Those living in Semporna and southern Sulu speak Southern Sama and those in western Taitawi, central and northern Sulu speak varieties of Central Sama.  Languages are usually mutually intelligible with the language being able to be transferred rather easily from group to group. 


Impang, Fernando   

                2010  People-in-Country-Profile.  Electronic Document,  http://www.joshuaproject.net /people-profile.php?peo3=18873&rog3=RP, accessed April 21, 2013.