article
Reflections on Bajau History
Philippine studies • 16 (1) • Published In 1968 • Pages: 32-59
By: Nimmo, Harry.
Abstract
This essay provides insights on Sama-Bajau origin myths and traditions, and their recent transition from fulltime boat-dwellers to land-dwellers. While underscoring the popularity of a legend that they came from a distant place to the west, the author combines linguistic and historical data to argue that Sama-Bajau origin stories and identity be contextualized in their historical interactions with neighboring ethnic groups, including other boat-dwelling peoples of the region. The switch to a settled, terrestrial lifestyle is attributed to the establishment of fish-purchasing enterprises (mostly owned by Chinese) and of mosques and churches that led to a rapid development of associated village communities and towns.
- Region
- Asia
- Sub Region
- Southeast Asia
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Anthropologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Teferi Abate Adem
- Field Date
- 1963, 1965-1967
- Coverage Date
- 800-1967
- Coverage Place
- Tawi-Tawi province, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Philippines
- Notes
- H. Arlo Nimmo
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 58-59)
- LCCN
- 56037474
- LCSH
- Bajau (Southeast Asian people)