Bajau << bah JOW >> are an ethnic group of the southern Philippines. The Bajau inhabit the coasts of the Sulu archipelago (island chain) and neighboring areas. They are sometimes referred to as the Sama Dilaut. They are closely related to the Sama-speaking peoples of eastern Indonesia and Malaysian Borneo.
The Bajau are widely known as seafaring nomads. Today, most families have shifted from ocean-based settlements to houses built on or near land, but the ocean continues to play a central role in Bajau culture. Bajau traditionally make a living through such activities as fishing, diving, boat building, and weaving. Many Bajau are expert sea navigators.
Groups of extended family members form the main social unit in traditional Bajau society. Some families live in houses raised on stilts along the seashore. They also spend a great deal of time in houseboats, known as lepa. The Bajau harvest much of their food, including fish, octopus, and shellfish, from the ocean. They obtain much of this food by diving. In 2018, scientists found that Bajau individuals often have a significantly larger spleen compared to individuals of neighboring groups. One function of the spleen is to serve as a reservoir for oxygen-rich blood in the body. Scientists think the enlarged spleens of the Bajau are a physical adaptation that helps them dive for long periods.
Before the introduction of Islam to the Sulu archipelago, the Bajau practiced a religion based in animism and ancestor worship. Today, most Bajau practice a blend of Islam and animism. A small minority of Bajau are Christian, and an even smaller number continue to practice animism with minimal influence from other religions.
The Bajau share the Sulu archipelago with a number of other ethnic groups, including the Tausug, who ruled over the islands for hundreds of years. Today, the Bajau are subject to discrimination from the economically and politically dominant Tausug. For this reason, the Bajau face many challenges, including limited access to education and other basic services.
