The Bajo or Wajo (; , ) are the indigenous Indonesian ethnic group native to the Lesser Sunda Islands (Nusa Tenggara) in Central–Eastern Indonesia region. These ethnic group can be found all across the Flores Sea to the northeastern Bali Sea, and some have established permanent settlements in the southern of Sulawesi where they are locally known as the "Wajo Bugis" or "Turijine" due to their close historical relation with the Bugis ethnic group.

Ethnonym

The ethnonym of Bajo people is a demonym-based endonym, which referring to their native origin in the Bajo Island of Lesser Sunda Islands (Nusa Tenggara). According to Oxford English Dictionary, (, romanized as 'Wajo'), which literally means "[the] wood", referring to the material for making boats that are often used by the Bajo ethnic group to travel the sea across the Flores Sea region. The term also adopted in Standard Indonesian, where it is defined as an ethnic group of Sulawesi waters-origin. Meanwhile in the Northern Sumatran language of Acehnese, is adopted as a term for the ship peg (Bajo and any other Sulawesi-origin ethnics are known for its shipbuilding).

Sub-ethnics

The Bajo people’s identity is intrinsically tied to the sea. Their traditional way of life revolves around fishing, diving, and boat dwelling.

  • Pallibu Bajo, the Bajo who had the habit of going to sea only for a day and the distance is relatively close. They used a Soppe boat which can be driven by oars. After getting the fishes, they return to their homeland to sell their catch or enjoy it with their families.
  • Papongka Bajo, the Bajo who went for a week or couple of weeks to wander the sea. They use the same type of boat as the Palibu group; which is a Soppe boat. If they feel that they have obtained enough catch or run out of clean water, they will stop by the nearest islands. After selling the fish they caught and getting clean water, they will return to the sea, and the cycle will repeat continuously.
  • Sakkaiʼ Bajo, the Bajo who are characterized by the usage of large boat called Leppa and spent longer time in sea (at least a month or two). The Leppa boat itself specifically can even accommodate a family and the necessities of daily life while at sea, and nowadays the Leppa equipped with engines as well. However, the Sakkai are not much different from the Papongka group, but Sakkai have greater reach of 'working areas'.
  • Lamme Bajo, the Bajo who can be categorized by the adoption of modern techniques of fishing. They use large boats with large crews and powerful engines. They crossed the high-tide seas and even reach another countries (mostly neighbouring countries of Indonesia). And they can be in the ocean for months.

Diaspora

The Bajo diaspora refers to the diasporic community of Bajo who mainly lived or settled outside of their native Indonesia homeland.

  • In Madagascar, the Bajo diaspora locally known as Vezo (the spelling of “Bajo” according to Malagasy orthography).
  • In Philippines, the Bajo diaspora locally known as Samal Badjaw, they primarily settled in Samal Island in northeastern Sulawesi Sea.
  • In vicinity of Riau Archipelago (such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Sabah), the Bajo diaspora locally known as Bajau (the spelling of “Bajo” according to Malay orthography).

Language

The native spoken language of Bajo people is Bajo language, it is part of the South Sulawesi languages.

Comparison

{| class="wikitable"

! rowspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | English gloss

! colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" style="background-color: #g7sbec" | Indonesia

! colspan="3" style="text-align: center;" style="background-color: #g7sbec" | Diasporic

|-

!style="background-color: #d9ebec" | Bajo Island Standard Bajo (Bajo)

!style="background-color: #d9ebec" | Sumbawa Island Standard Bajo (Mbojo)

!style="background-color: #d9dbed" | Madagascar Standard Bajo (Vezo)

!style="background-color: #d9dbed" | Philippines Samal Bajo (Badjaw)

!style="background-color: #d9dbed" | Sabah Samal Bajo (Bajau)

|-

| one || sa’ || || isa || issa || isa

|-

| three || telu || || telo || t’llu || telu

|-

| five || lime || || limy || lima || limo

|-

| seven || pitu || || fito || pitu’ || pitu’

|-

| eight || walo || || valo || walu’ || wau’

|-

| nine || sanga || || sivy || siyam || siom

|-

| ten || pulu || || folo || pu’ || sepu’

|-

| hundred || datus || || zato || dahatus || da’atus

|-

|}

Movies

  • The Mirror Never Lies (2011) — an Indonesian film directed by Kamila Andini
  • Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) — An American movie directed by James Cameron

References

Notes

Bibliography

See also

  • Labuan Bajo
  • Wajo

Further reading