Style of Living of Badjao Essay Sample

The Badjao are popularly known as “Sea Gypsies” of the Sulu and Celebes Sea. The name “Badjao” is a Malay-Bornean word which connotes “man of the seas” or Orang-Laut in Bahasa Malayo. Their Sama and Tausug neighbours call them by dyslogistic names such as Samal Palau ( outcast Samal ) . The badjao call themselves as Samal Laus ( Sea Sama ) . Many badjaos live most of their lives in houseboats. which on occasion cluster in moorages near certain strands and beaches. so as to make concern in nearby market topographic points of the land-dwelling Sama and Tausug. In the markets they barter their sea merchandises for such farm green goods as fruits and manioc. On the shore they besides fetch imbibing H2O. gather firewood and gather stuffs needed in the building and fix of their houseboats. The Badjao or sea itinerants inhabit the shores and Waterss of Sulu archipelago. These groups of Badjaos may be classified harmonizing to life style. The badjao populating Siasi Island is semi-sedentary. constructing stilt-houses over the H2O and engaging in fishing. The group of the Sitangkai physiques lasting places on the shore whiles the group live in the houseboat called sakayan.

The stilt-houses simply serve as a impermanent safety during the clip that their boathouses undergo fixs. The other boats are called lipa. vinta. pelang and kumpit. The Badjaos are found in many coastal colonies studing the Sulu archipelago. peculiarly in Jolo. Tawi-Tawi and Sitangkai. Others are scattered in Davao. Surigao. Zamboanga. Basilan. Bohol. Cebu and Manila in hunt of support. They are estimated to be 191. 817 ( OSCC. 1987 ) . Their physical characteristics are distinctively attributable to their environment and their manner of life. They have sturdy built dark brown tegument and bronzy hair. Their mode of walking is affected to a big extent by their crouching on boat after part while sailing or fishing. The Badjaos are oppressed folk.

They are referred to as palao or lumaan ( God forsaken ) by the Tausugs. Badjaos developed an lower status attitude towards the Tausugs and the Samals who ever look down on them. Originally. they used to populate on the land but the changeless force per unit area on their safety by the other Muslim folks forced them to seek the sea. They finally found that the sea afforded them greater avenues of flight in the event of onslaught. The sea environment shaped Badjao attitude. They learned to work the sea to their fullest advantage. Their art is in angling. raising seaweeds and oyster. Pearl assemblage is another business. and merchandises of the sea they gather to sell at market. Culture

The Regatta Lepa festival in Semporna. Sabah. Malaysia. Lepa means “boat” in the idiom of east seashore Bajau. In this festival. Bajau people decorate their boats with colourful flags. Many Bajaus of the east seashore retain their seaborne life style. together with leftovers of traditional pre-Islamic beliefs. Traditional Bajau communities may hold a dukun ( i. e. a priest-doctor ) and may adhere to taboos refering the intervention of the sea and other cultural facets. Among the boat-dwellers in peculiar. community spirit mediums are consulted at least one time a twelvemonth for a public seance and every night enchantment dance. In times of epidemics. the mediums are besides called upon to take unwellness doing liquors from the community. They do this by puting a “spirit boat” adrift in the unfastened sea beyond the small town or anchorage. It has been suggested by some research workers that Bajau people’s visits to Arnhem Land gave rise to the histories of the cryptic Baijini people in the myths of Australia’s Yolngu Aboriginals.

Bajau fishermen make usage of wooden seafaring vass known as perahu lambo for ocean trips to the Timor and Arafura seas. The building and launch of these trades are ritualized. and the vass are believed to hold a spirit ( Sumanga’ ) . Under a 1974 Memorandum of Understanding. “Indonesian traditional fishermen” are allowed to angle within the Exclusive Economic Zone of Australia. which includes traditional fishing evidences of Bajau fishers. However. fishing in these countries has led to concern about over fishing and devastation of Bajau vass. Bajaus are besides noted for their exceeding abilities in free-diving. with physical versions that enable them to see better and dive longer underwater. Some Bajau deliberately rupture their tympanums at an early age in order to ease diving and hunting at sea. Many older Bajau are hence difficult of hearing. The West Coast Bajau is adept equestrians – this is their chief claim to fame in Malaysia. where Equus caballus equitation has ne’er been widespread anyplace else. Bajau people are besides good known for weaving and needlework accomplishments. Bajau have a alone type of dance called the Pangigal. It is common in marrying ceremonials for native communities throughout Malaysia and the Philippines. This dance is most famously danced to the music Daling-daling. RELIGIONS

Harmonizing to our survey there are 95. 26 % badjau people that their faith is Islam. because harmonizing to the history of badjau they found in Sulu archipelago. We have besides 0. 52 % of badjau’s Christian ( Christianity ) . 0. 08 % of common people faith ( Other faith ) . and 4. 14 % of badjau’s that have no faith or unknown. Claims to spiritual piousness and acquisition are an of import beginning of single prestigiousness among the coastal Bajau. and the rubric of salip/sarip ( posterities of the Prophet Muhammad ) are shown particular award in the local community. Some of the Bajau deficiency mosques and must trust on the shore-based communities such as those of the more Islamized Àrabic or Malay peoples. The Ubian Bajau. due to their mobile Marine life style. are much less adherent to Orthodox Islam. and pattern more of a syncretistic common people loanblend. idolizing local sea liquors. known in Islamic nomenclature as Jinn. BELIEFS

* Thanks – giving offering to the Omboh Dilaut. the God of the Sea. whenever a peculiarly big gimmick is brought in. * . Spirit mediums are consulted at least one time a twelvemonth for a public seance and every night enchantment dance. * In times of epidemics. the mediums are besides called upon to take unwellness doing liquors from the community. They do this by puting a “spirit boat” adrift in the unfastened sea beyond the small town or anchorage. * A Badjao nuptials is a three twenty-four hours matter with dancing. nutrient and celebrations. The whole town is invited. Today. the ceremonial has been mixed with modern formal rite. * On the concluding twenty-four hours of celebrations. most of the people of the community gathered in forepart of the church. watching terpsichoreans and waiting for the merriment to get down. * The bride wore a white. frilly gown. Around her cervix hung non one but two big gold necklaces with another in her hair which laid depression on her brow. * The bride hair was tucked up under a white tulle head covering that trailed behind her. * On her custodies she wore lacy baseball mitts.

Each finger donned at least one big gold ring and her carpuss drooped with gilded watchbands. * A adult female sings the “lugu” before the ceremonial starts as the “imam” . the lugu’s wordss are poetries from the Koran ; it has a traditional and melancholic melody. * Today. some of the Badjao folks are civilized. The groom was in besides his finest. But for him. that meant glistening new gym shoes. dark blue a traditional denims and white linen shirt. His hair was spiked with tons of gel. And up until the vows. he wore bran-new black Sun spectacless. They sat on a bench with their custodies neatly folded on aureate pillows. * They exchanged rings and vowed to love each other ; they performed together a traditional badjao dance. the PANGALAY. * The traditional garb of a Badjao is the “patadjong. ” It has many utilizations ; they are made big plenty to suit any individual and are worn by both work forces and adult females as a skirt or gown tucked at the chest degree. * It can function as caput screen. girdle. sash. cover. knoll. shoulderbag. cradle. pouch. or pillow. CONCLUSIONS

The Badjao’s are people that came someplace in Mindanao they are non wholly alms to other people but because of their odor and expression they compare to the people who live in the street and they known as badjao. Many people want to cognize how they live or survive in life. In our survey we discovered that the manner of life is far from them. They sale their ware on the port. they fish every twenty-four hours. and besides they are hunter. There houses are made up of forests and other roll uping debris. We don’t need to judge other people to their physical properties to cognize their attitude. The Badjao are comfy the manner their unrecorded. They don’t presume to be rich they are the people who know how to fulfill. Foods are their lone jobs they want to work out because they are depend to the nature of wood.