Media Framing

“First impressions were of awe,” says photographer Adam Docker. “You feel like you have arrived in some long lost tribe only ever seen on [BBC documentary] Planet Earth or read about in a Jules Verne book.” Docker, who took these stunning photographs, recounts his first visit to a Bajau sea gypsy village on the island of Borneo, not far from the town of Semporna in the Malaysian state of Sabah. Surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise water, coral, and dazzling sea life, the cluster of huts on stilts perched out on the ocean look astounding.

The uniqueness of the Bajo tribes has encouraged many people to learn more about the origin, lifestyles, customs, art and traditional culture of this tribe. Indonesia's young filmmaker, Kamila Andini, has even made a film elevating the lives of the Bajo tribe in the natural Wakatobi setting. "The Mirror Never Lies" is the title of the film and the film went on to win an award at the Bandung Film Festival (FFB) in May 2012. Kamila Andini was also named best director FFB for this film. Without a doubt, the existence and uniqueness of the Bajo tribe is an amazing addition to the rich ethnic and cultural diversity of Indonesia. 

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 April 21.