Bajo Tribe, a Maritime Tribe that Continues to Exist and Develop in Indonesia

Bajo Tribe, a Maritime Tribe that Continues to Exist and Develop in Indonesia

a name that is closely associated with nomadic life in the blue sea. Starting from the Sulu Islands in the Southern Philippines, they have explored the waters of Southeast Asia and found new homes in almost all of the Indonesian archipelago.

 



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However, what actually makes the Bajo Tribe so unique? How do the lives of these nomadic people continue to adapt to modern times? Apart from that, how did they relate to other tribes around the islands where they settled?

In the vast ocean, the Bajo tribe finds beauty and freedom that many people rarely experience. However, behind this amazing life, what really makes the Bajo Tribe remain strong amidst the changing times? How are their local traditions and wisdom maintained, even though many members of this tribe have settled and mingled with other communities on the islands they visit?

The Bajo tribe, a tribe that has strong ties to the sea and nomadic life. However, behind the natural beauty and nomadic life, there are still many mysteries that we want to solve. What makes the Bajo tribe so fixated on life on the sea? How do they maintain their identity and culture amidst ongoing changing times?

For more complete information, the following has been summarized by Liputan6.com from various sources, on Monday (6/5).

Origins of the Bajo Tribe

Bajo Tribe Village Enlarge

Bajo Tribe Village. The Bajo tribe or also known as the Bajau tribe or Sama tribe is an ethnic group originating from the Sulu Islands, Southern Philippines. They are known as a nomadic tribe that lives on the sea, also known as sea gypsies.

The language used by the Bajo tribe is Sama-Bajau. History records that the Bajau tribe has spread to various regions, including Sabah and various regions in Indonesia, since hundreds of years ago. They are also recognized as children of the country in Sabah.

It is believed that the migration of tribes in Kalimantan came from the north, namely the Philippines, in prehistoric times. The Bajo tribe, the majority of whom are Muslim, are the last wave of migration from northern Kalimantan. They entered the coast of East Kalimantan to South Kalimantan, and occupied the surrounding islands. This happened before the arrival of Muslim tribes from the Bugis family, such as the Bugis and Mandar tribes.

Currently, the Bajo tribe has spread throughout almost the entire Indonesian archipelago, especially Eastern Indonesia, even to Madagascar. They generally have settled and mixed with other tribes in the areas they inhabit.

Several regions in Indonesia where the Bajo tribe is found include North Kalimantan (Nunukan, Tana Tidung, Tarakan, and Bulungan), East Kalimantan (Berau, Bontang, Balikpapan, etc.), South Kalimantan (Kotabaru district is called the Bajau Rampa Kapis), Sulawesi South (Selayar), Southeast Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara (Boleng Island, Seraya, Longos, Komodo and surrounding areas), and Sapeken in Sumenep. They can also be found in other regions of eastern Indonesia.

Daily Life of the Bajo Tribe

The Bajau tribe has a unique life, where most of them have started living in houses built on poles in shallow waters. However, there are also some Bajau tribes who live as boat dwellers. Among them, local communities consisted of scattered aquatic groups consisting of families whose members regularly returned, between fishing intervals, to common common binding sites.

Typically, two to six families will join an alliance to regularly fish and gather together, often sharing food, nets and equipment and combining labor. Currently, fishing activities are mainly for selling to the market. Fishing activity varies with tides, monsoons and local winds, currents, pelagic fish migration, and monthly lunar cycles.

During moonless nights, fishing is often done using lights, using spears and fishing lines. Most fish are preserved by salting or drying. In some cases, turtles are caught and kept under houses until appropriate celebrations (such as a son’s wedding) – causing concern for marine conservationists.

Boats used as family dwellings vary in size and construction. In Indonesia and Malaysia, the average boat is 10 meters long and 2 meters wide. They are made of plank construction with a solid keel and forefoot. All were equipped with a roofed living area made of poles and woven thatch and a portable clay cooking area, usually carried near the stern, used to prepare family meals.

The boat-dwelling Bajau (in contrast to their neighbors) see themselves as a non-aggressive people who prefer flight to physical confrontation. Therefore, politically dominant groups in the region have historically viewed the Bajau with disdain as timid and unreliable subjects.

Bajo Tribe Settlement Pattern

The Bajo tribe, although spread across various islands, maintains unity in a unique settlement pattern. According to research quoted from Tropical Climate and the Unique Shape of Traditional Indonesian Houses by Nur Inayah Syar (2019: 22-23), the Bajo tribe has three different settlement patterns, which shows their adaptation to the marine environment that has been their home for centuries .

First Pattern: A house that is completely separated from land and located on the open sea. The foundation of this house uses coral stone, reflecting traditional construction skills that are sturdy in the face of the challenges of a harsh marine environment.

Second Pattern: A house that juts out towards the sea and is connected to the mainland using a bridge. This shows creativity in overcoming difficult terrain, while maintaining connectivity to land for daily needs.

Third Pattern: Houses built on the coast by compacting sand and coral (reclamation). In this pattern, they create house passages as boat lanes to easily pass between settlements, showing awareness of the importance of maritime mobility in everyday life.

The houses made by the Bajo tribe are in the form of houses on stilts, which are often referred to as “upper houses” because they are above the sea. Even though it is spread across several islands, the uniqueness of this settlement pattern shows the cohesiveness and continuity of Bajo culture in various regions.

In the context of daily life, the settlement pattern which is centered on the sea also creates its own challenges for interactions between the Bajo Tribe and other tribal communities. Limited access to land and dependence on marine life are characteristics that differentiate them, as well as making them somewhat isolated in social life on land.

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