Sama-Bajau: Southeast Asia’s Ocean Navigators

October 20, 2025 – Pasay City, NCR, Philippines

Article by AIMS Museo Maritimo Personnel

Sama-Bajau Children in Basilan. Photo by I, Hu9423, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2328937

Every October, the Philippines observes National Indigenous Peoples' Month to honor and celebrate the rich cultural heritage, contributions, and struggles of the country’s Indigenous communities. This month serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving Indigenous traditions, upholding their rights, and recognizing their vital role in shaping the nation’s identity.

Among the many indigenous groups in the Philippines is the Sama Bajau, a seafaring people traditionally found in the southern regions, particularly in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and parts of Mindanao as well as in some parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. Known as the "sea nomads," the Sama-Bajau speak the Samal language and have a deep connection to the ocean, living much of their lives on boats called lepa (also called "lepa-lepa") or in wooden stilt houses over coastal waters (Roxas-Lim, 2017).

Sama-Bajau houses in Cawa Cawa, Zamboanga City, Philippines, 1923. Photo by National Council of the Protestant Episcopal Church Department of Missions - No. III. Philippine Islands. Handbooks on the Missions of the Episcopal Church. National Council of the Protestant Episcopal Church Department of Missions. 1923., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84157670

Aside from Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, they also have enclaves that can be found in Zamboanga and Basilan (Roxas-Lim, 2017). As skilled boat-builders, free divers, and navigators, the Sama-Bajau have long sustained a culture of mobility, fishing, and trade across Southeast Asia's archipelagic zones. Culturally, the Sama-Bajau, also known as Sama Dilaut in the Philippines, offer a rare example of a people whose identity is intricately tied to the sea.

Sama-Bajau Settlement in the Philippines. Photo by Travelbusy.com - Bajau-Philippines, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21547005

Despite facing social and economic challenges, they continue to preserve their unique maritime culture, language, and customs, contributing to the rich tapestry of Indigenous Filipino life and of Southeast Asia.

Reference:

Roxas-Lim, A. 2017. Marine-Oriented Sama-Bajao People and Their Search for Human Rights. Public Policy Journal XVIII():.