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The Case of the Sama-Bajau of Maritime Southeast Asia

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The Case of the Sama-Bajau of Maritime Southeast Asia Jurnal Sejarah Citra Lekha, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2016, hlm. 71-80 UNDERSTANDING IDENTITY AND DIASPORA: THE CASE OF THE SAMA-BAJAU OF MARITIME SOUTHEAST ASIA Matthew Constancio Maglana Department of Asian and Philippine Studies University of the Philippines Diliman Corresponding author: [email protected] Diterima/ Received: 1 Januari 2016 ; Disetujui/ Accepted: 1 Agustus 2016 Abstract The Sama-Bajau or the Sinama-speaking peoples are deemed to be the most widely dispersed indigenous ethno- linguistic group in maritime Southeast Asia. The Sama-Bajau “diaspora,” which constitute a locus of points across territorially-defined spaces, gives rise to specific socio-cultural contexts which in turn results in the emergence of distinct notions of identity. This diaspora, therefore, gives the student of culture the opportunity to observe ethno-genesis as either “completed,” incipient or on-going processes of the creation of identities that exhibit rare tensions between ideas of sameness and difference. The former is a function of a common origin, which may be real or perceived, while the latter results from site-specific sources of distinction such as those brought about by socio-cultural adaptation to environment, intercultural contact with other peoples or other external sources of culture change. This article interrogates this tension between sameness and difference through a selection of examples seen in labels of self-designation, language, and, religious and ritual practices. Keywords: Sama-bajau, diaspora, ethnic identities, maritime state INTRODUCTION Southeast Asia. It will be shown that Sama ethnic identity is characterized by tensions A very brief review of the literature of the between notions of sameness and difference. seminal publications on the Sama-Bajau reveals This interrogation is pursued through the use of that they consist mainly of ethnographies or data gathered by the author in the field as well as socio-economic histories of the people in the through data from recently published materials three territorial areas of the Philippines written by known experts in the area of Sama- (Nimmo, 2001 and Bottignolo, 1995), Malaysia Bajau studies. The first section of the paper (Sather, 1997 and Obon, 1999); and Indonesia reviews basic concepts of “diaspora” and “ethnic (Stacey, 2007 and Saat, 2010). More recent identity.” The second section rexamines “Sama- publications focus on ritual and performance Bajau” and other related labels as markers of (Hussin and Santamaria, 2012 and Abels with ethnic identity. The third section looks at the Hussin and Santamaria, 2012). This article aims theme of language and identity. The fourth to link the three territorial areas of the Sama- section examines religion, ritual practice and Bajau through an interrogation of notions of identity. This article concludes with a discussion ethnic identity a within the context of the so- of the notion of “fluid identities” found not only called “diaspora” in the region of maritime 71 Matthew Contastancio Maglana (Understanding Identity and Diaspora: The Case of Sama Bajau) among various groups of Sama-Bajau, but also consciousness and solidarity are importantly among other ethnicities in Southeast Asia. defined by the existence of such a relationship. (p. 37)” “DIASPORA” AND ETHNIC IDENTITY Examined closely and related to local lore, the first, second, third and sixth Before proceeding any further, it is best to characteristics appear to apply to the Sama- present definitions of the two basic concepts of Bajau. The first need to be slightly modified to this paper. The first concept is that of the read: “they or their ancestors, must believe that “diaspora.” Some rethinking of the concept of they have been dispersed...” Return to the diaspora must be done in order to appropriately supposed homeland (the 4th) and commitment capture the condition of the Sama-Bajau of to its restoration (the 5th) do not appear to be maritime Southeast Asia. The word diaspora is aspirations presently expressed by the Sama- understood to refer to “that segment of a people Bajau. Specifically, many Sama-Bajau living outside the homeland” (Walker Conner as communities claim that Johore in the Malayan cited in Sudesh, 2006, p. 32). More often than peninsula is their point of origin. This point of not, it is associated with the dispersal of the origin is contained in Sama-Bajau myths with Jewish people from their so-called promised many variants. The following is an example of land. Since it is quite beyond doubt that the such an origin myth as noted by Sather (1997): central region of maritime Southeast Asia is the “TheBajaucameoriginallyfromJohore. OnceaJohore “home” of the Sama-Bajau, the historical usage princessdisappearedduringstormatthesea. TheSultan of the word may not be most appropriate in of Johore organized a group of people tosearch forher. describing their situation. Worth considering is However, the lost princess could not be found, and the William Safran’s (cited in Sudesh, 2006) detailed people who were looking for her found themselves far operationalization. fromJohore,andwereunabletofindtheirwaybackagain, Connor’s definition be extended and that andsotheysettleddownalongthecoastalareasofBorneo, the concept of diaspora be applied to expatriate Sulawesi,andintheSuluArchipelago.(p.17)” minority communities whose members share several of the following characteristics: 1) they, Myths of origin must not be taken literally. or their ancestors, have been dispersed from a Hoogervorst contends that “such claims “must specific original ‘center’ to two or more be contextualized in a setting of semi- ‘peripheral,’ or foreign regions; 2) they retain a mythological lineages from... patron-client collective memory, vision, or myth about their relations with ruling dynasties” (Hoogervorst, original homeland --- its physical location, 2012, p. 252). Sather (1997) explains that the history and achievements; 3) they believe that myths link them to “the most prestigious of all they are not --- and perhaps cannot be --- fully Malay kingdoms... Johore... was heir to Malacca, accepted by their host society and therefore feel the later claiming, through Palembang, an partly alienated and insulated from it; 4) they uninterrupted chain of succession from regard their ancestral homeland as their true, Srivijaya...” (p. 17). In the opposite side of the ideal home and as the place to which they or maritime Southeast Asian region, specifically in their descendants would (or should) eventually the area of Selayar in South Sulawesi, parallel return --- when conditions are appropriate; 5) origin myths exist. However, instead of Johore, they believe that they should, collectively, be Luwu, Goa and Bone are mentioned as points of committed to the maintenance or restoration of origin. (Sopher, 1965, p. 160-161, Liebner, their original homeland and to its safety and 1996, p. 12 and Nuraini, 2012, p. 148) The link prosperity; and 6) they continue to relate, with theses kingdoms can be explained by the by personally or vicariously, to that homeland in the service or utility provided by the Sama-Bajau one way or another, and their ethno-communal to these centers. Owing to their sea-orientation, 72 Jurnal Sejarah Citra Lekha, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2016, hlm. 71-80 the Sama-knowledge of the sea currents, the colonial period, the Sama-Bajau had three basic wind patterns, the stars and other features of components of identity, “namely the common their water world made them very adept sea- terms of reference, Sama or Bajau, their language farers. This skill made them useful to sultans as and their religion, Islam” (p. 1). This rather allies in trade, raiding and warfare (See: Saat essentialist view of ethnic identity is confronted 2003, p. 9 and Hoogervorst, 2012, p. 261). by several methodological concerns. First of all, Linguistic evidence points to central maritime Gusni Saat did not specifically indicate the time Southeast Asia as the “home” of the Sama-Bajau. period for this colonial period which varies Pallesen (1985) indicate “the area around across the present-day nation-states of the Basilan Strait including what is now Zamboanga Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. City” as the habitat of Sama-Bajau speakers Second, historical records or accounts of the sometime in 800 AD (p. 117). Citing the study Sama-Bajau tend to be very ethno-centric and of Blust, Nuraini (2012, p. 148)) suggests the spotty at best. Third, ethnographic studies Barito Estuary in Southeast Borneo as an early which ought to be able to validate ethnogenesis, point of origin in the process of dispersion. From that is the emergence and transformations in there, they would have moved up to the area of identity, only started in the region in the 20th the Sulu Archipelago and then later disperse century. The following three sections offer a southwards again towards the coasts of North critic of this essentialist view, while at the same Borneo and Sulawesi. time illustrating the highly nuanced character of The second concept of importance in this Sama-Bajau identity (ies). article is that of “ethnic identity.” De Vos (2006) puts forward the definition of an ethnic THE “SAMA-BAJAU” LABEL AS A MARKER group as “a self perceived inclusion of those who OF IDENTITY hold in common a set of tradition not shared by others with whom they are in contact. Such Who are the Sama-Bajau? The label is usually traditions typically include “folk” religious beliefs used to refer to the Sama or Sinama-speaking and practices, language, a sense of historical
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