The Bajau: History And Characteristics Of This Asian People
In the Joló Sea, near the coast of the Zamboanga Peninsula, lives a community in full communion with the ocean. They are the Bajau, also known as the “nomads of the sea”, who continue to practice their centuries-old practices in the 21st century. These traditions are related to fishing, which has been their way of life for generations. Bajau are completely adapted to deep-sea diving, and can stay below the surface for as long as 5 minutes (and sometimes much longer).
Who are the Bajau, the “nomads of the sea”? In this article we propose a trip through this fascinating culture.
The Bajau or Badjao are located in the current countries of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. They are a very ancient people, of uncertain origin, who speak a Malayo-Polynesian language and who follow syncretic beliefs, a mixture of Islam and animism, although many of them are Sunni Muslims.
The Bajau They live in wooden houses suspended in the sea by pillars of the same material and that sink under its waters It is believed that they probably came to the sea under pressure from other peoples. Since then, the Bajau have literally lived in the water, we could say, since many of them barely set foot on land in their entire lives. During the day, they go into the ocean aboard their lepas, small wooden boats built by themselves in the traditional way. Once in the open sea, they cover their eyes with wooden diving goggles and put on fins made of the same material, which allow them to “walk” on the seabed.
After a series of deep breaths, during which their metabolism slows down and their heartbeats space out, sea hunters dive into the waters, searching for fish and crustaceans. Their only fishing tool is a kind of spear, also made by themselves, which allows them to spear the fish.
Their main food source is the sea, which is why the Bajau are expert swimmers and divers His lung capacity is unheard of; They can stay under water for more than 5 minutes (sometimes up to 10), thanks to hard and continuous training that begins in childhood. In addition, a recent study has shown that the Bajau have a spleen larger than the average human size, which could benefit them in their underwater activities. Let’s see why.
Genetic adaptation to the sea
Dr. Melissa Llardo, from the Center for Geogenetics at the University of Copenhagen, was completely amazed by the ability that this Asian community demonstrated to remain under the sea for long minutes
To study the skills of these marine hunters, he moved to a Bajau community and, with the consent of the tribe, began a series of investigations in this regard. Llardo made a surprising discovery: the spleen of the Bajau was no less than 50% larger than that of the Saluan, a group that lives on the main island of Indonesia. Despite being ethnically related to the Bajau, the Saluan do not engage in underwater fishing, which could explain the genetic differences between both communities.
But what relationship does the spleen have with all this?
The spleen and oxygen
The spleen is an organ that is located near the pancreas and whose function is, among others, to produce lymphocytes and filter blood. When a person is underwater, the spleen contracts to save energy due to the sudden decrease in oxygen. In an average human being, the immersion will last a few seconds, depending on their physical capabilities and previous training.
In the case of the Bajau, The larger size of the spleen could be linked to its resistance underwater , since it allows a greater release of oxygen in the blood during diving. At least, this is how Dr. Llardo’s study concludes: this genetic mutation enabled the Bajau to better adapt to their underwater life.
There are, however, other factors related to the underwater resistance of this town. According to Richard Moon, from the Duke University School of Medicine (United States), continuous training of the Bajau from childhood helps to achieve greater lung adaptation, which would prevent blood vessels from breaking due to high pressure. underwater
On the other hand, The study of the Bajau could help understand how acute hypoxia works and its possible solutions, since this disease involves a rapid loss of oxygen that can lead to death. If we can understand how the Bajau manage to withstand the high levels of pressure underwater and the consequent decrease in oxygen in the blood, perhaps we will be closer to finding the remedy.
A happy and colorful community
The Bajau are a happy people, great lovers of festivals, music and color. When night falls and the fishermen return home, a small celebration usually takes place , which includes music and dance. However, weddings are the most applauded moments: in them, women perform a dance in which they imitate, with their hands and their body, the movements of the waves of the sea. Men are not allowed to participate in this type of dance; only the groom has the honor of joining the dancers.
The Bajau’s clothing is colorful and full of fantasy, made with a traditional fabric called dastaralthough currently it is very common to see members of the communities dress in Western style. The sale of surplus fishing, as well as souvenirs for tourists, provides them with the necessary income to obtain everything you need to live, such as clothing or kitchen utensils.
Climate change and massive fishing, serious threats to the Bajau
The traditional lifestyle of this town is being threatened by two extremely important factors: on the one hand, climate change, which causes sea storms that pose a danger to fishing in the fragile lepas; and on the other, massive fishing, which is leaving the Bajau without a food source. That is why Many of them are migrating to the mainland, where they make a living as ranchers or farmers
In a globalized world where natural reserves are in danger, traditional communities like the Bajau find it frankly difficult to continue practicing their lifestyle. Fortunately, there is increasing awareness on the subject, and the customs of these people from the seas of the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia enjoy more and more respect and admiration. Let us hope that the Bajau can continue to enjoy, in the future, their absolute harmony with the ocean.
