Sama-Bajau

Asiaprimarily hunter-gatherers
Map
expand_more Description

The Sama-Bajau are a traditionally nomadic, boat-dwelling “sea-people” found in coastal areas from eastern Borneo to the Moluccas, and from southern Mindanao to the Lesser Sunda Islands. Sustained primarily by fishing, a large and growing proportion are land-dwelling horticulturalists, vendors and laborers, fully converted to Islam. Boat-dwellers have retained a strongly egalitarian ethos and elements of their indigenous religious practices.

Identifier
Region
  • Asia
Subregion
  • Southeast Asia
Subsistence Type
  • primarily hunter-gatherers
Samples
Countries
  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia
  • Philippines