Praying for Indonesia

Join the movement!

  • About Indonesia
    • Overview of Indonesia
    • Quick Facts About Indonesia
    • The Islands of Indonesia
    • Indonesia: Think Big!
  • Religion in Indonesia
    • Overview of Religions
    • Christianity In Indonesia
    • Buddhism in Indonesia
    • Hinduism in Indonesia
    • Islam in Indonesia
    • Folk Islam In Indonesia
  • Ethnic Groups
    • The People of Bali and Nusa Tenggara
    • The People of Java
    • The People of Kalimantan
    • The People of Maluku
    • The People of Sulawesi
    • The People of Sumatra
  • News
  • Testimonies
  • Get Involved
    • Prayer Resources
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Ethnic Groups / The People of Sulawesi / Who are the Bajau?

Who are the Bajau?

The Bajau are a highly mobile maritime people group found throughout the coastal areas of most Indonesian islands. They can also be found in the neighboring countries of Malaysia and the Philippines.

Their high mobility led outsiders to refer to them as “sea gypsies.” In Eastern Indonesia, the largest number of Bajau are found on the islands and in the coastal districts of Sulawesi.

They speak the language of Bajau. The Bajau language is part of a larger language group called the Sama Bajau.

What are their lives like?

While many Bajau live in houses built on stilts in shallow water, some Bajau are boat dwellers. Among the Bajau boat dwellers, local communities consist of scattered moorage groups made up of families whose members regularly return to a common anchorage site between fishing trips. Two to six families will group together in an alliance to regularly fish and anchor together, often sharing food, nets, and gear, and pooling labor. The marine life exported by the Bajau fishermen is diverse, including over 200 species of fish.

Fishing activity has many variables, including tides, currents, and the monthly lunar cycle. During moonless nights, fishing is often done with lanterns, using spears and hand lines. Today, fishing is primarily for market sale. Most fish are preserved by salting or drying. In some cases turtles are caught and kept under the house until an appropriate feasting time (such as the marriage of a son) – to the chagrin of marine conservationists.

The boats that are used as family dwellings vary in size and construction. The boats are about 10 meters long and 2 meters in wide. They are plank construction with solid keel and bow sections. All are equipped with a roofed living area made of poles and straw matting and a portable hearth. It is usually carried near the stern and is used for preparing family meals.

The boat-dwelling Bajau see themselves as non-aggressive people who prefer flight to physical confrontation. As a consequence, the politically dominant groups of the region have historically viewed the Bajau with disdain as timid, unreliable subjects.

What are their beliefs?

The Bajau are Sunni Muslim. Claims to religious piety and learning are an important source of individual prestige. The boat dwelling Bajau lack mosques. They must rely on the shore-based or stilt-house communities for this.

Among boat dwelling communities in particular, community shamans are assembled at least once a year for a public séance and nightly trance dancing. In times of epidemic illness, they are also called on to set a spirit boat adrift in the open sea beyond the village or anchorage site in order to remove the illness-causing spirits from the community.

What are their needs?

The Bajau need infrastructure development and renovations in the areas of health and education. Medical workers, facilities and services in their communities are very inadequate. Because of their nomadic lifestyle, many Bajau people are illiterate.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Get This FREE Prayer Guide!

Download this Free book today and also get prayer updates!

* indicates required

Newest Tweets

Twitter
praying4indonesia
praying4indonesia
@ipray4indonesia

A Tea Party ministry, an online group counseling of 5 or 6 women, provides a place where women with mission work backgrounds can come together for friendship and fellowship, and can be encouraged in their walk with the Lord. Please pray for more women will be blessed. pic.twitter.com/4FDn…

reply retweet favorite
10:00 pm · March 7, 2021
Twitter
praying4indonesia
praying4indonesia
@ipray4indonesia

A couple of new teams are leaving to serve in two different unreached people groups in Sumatra. Please pray for God’s provision, perseverance, safety and courage for these 2 new teams. Also pray for opportunities to share God’s Words to the people. pic.twitter.com/6wjt…

reply retweet favorite
10:00 pm · March 6, 2021
Twitter
praying4indonesia
praying4indonesia
@ipray4indonesia

"Above all, keep loving one another, since love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8) Father, may Christians in Indonesia love one another fiercely, covering a multitude of sins and painting a stark contrast with the culture surrounding them. pic.twitter.com/ixDA…

reply retweet favorite
3:30 am · March 6, 2021
Twitter
praying4indonesia
praying4indonesia
@ipray4indonesia

Praise the Lord for 25 new believers in north Sulawesi. Pray for strengthening their faith and eagerness in seeking God’s Words. Also pray for their transformation into Christ-like so they can be witnesses to their family and friends. pic.twitter.com/p9fI…

reply retweet favorite
1:30 am · March 5, 2021
Twitter
praying4indonesia
praying4indonesia
@ipray4indonesia

After Iman contacted a field worker for a hard copy of a bible, he started studying God’s Words together with the field worker. Pray for Iman to get a greater understanding of Your Word! Also pray for the field worker for wisdom in guiding Iman in studying God's Words. pic.twitter.com/Ftsl…

reply retweet favorite
10:00 pm · March 2, 2021
Follow @ipray4indonesia

Praying For Indonesia Facebook

Praying for Indonesia

Copyright © 2010–2021 · Praying For Indonesia · Privacy Policy · About Us