LEGEND OF THE ORIGIN OF THE BAJAU PEOPLE OF THE WEST COAST

We invite readers to share pictures and briefly explain the true origins of the Bajau ethnic group. What is particularly interesting is the depiction of the Bajau people's lifestyle, who are known for their nomadic existence at sea, often moving from place to place. Eventually, they had to decide whether to continue their seafaring way of life or settle on land to build a new life.

The widespread settlement of the Bajau ethnic group from the northern to the southern parts of Sabah’s west coast is clear evidence that this group prefers to determine their way of life based on the comfort of their own community. Below is a summary of different opinions regarding the origins of the West Coast Bajau ethnic group.

A source from Kota Kinabalu states that the West Coast Bajau originated from Indonesia. Various Bajau subgroups in Indonesia are known by different names such as Bajueh, Bajo, or Bajoe, depending on their dialects. These Indonesian Bajau people sailed to Borneo and the Philippines, exploring the seas in search of new settlements. They married local women and chose to settle in these lands.

In ancient times, the Bajau people were divided into clans, and conflicts frequently occurred between them. Out of these battles, dominant clans emerged with strong leaders who were eventually elevated to the status of Bajau kings. The princes and princesses of these Bajau rulers later embarked on their own journeys, settling on various islands across Indonesia, the Philippines, Kalimantan, and North Borneo.

At one point in history, the Johor Sultanate sought military assistance from the Bajau king to resolve internal conflicts. The Bajau king sent one of his sons to Johor, who successfully ended the strife in the state. This Bajau prince later married a woman from Johor and brought his wife back to North Borneo. In return, as a token of appreciation, a Johor admiral married a Bajau princess, and another Bajau princess married a Brunei ruler.

A source from Kota Belud recounts the origins of the Bajau ethnic group and their settlement in Tempasuk more than 300 years ago under the rule of the Brunei Sultanate. It is said that Bukit Rendian was originally the site of the Royal Johor Vessel. The legend of Dayang Aisyah, a Bajau princess from Johor who was supposed to marry the Sultan of Sulu, tells of how she instead chose to marry a Brunei prince.

The Bajau people were known as fierce sea warriors and served as followers of the Sultan of Johor. They were the escorts of Dayang Aisyah, and their failure to fulfill the Johor Sultan’s command brought them great shame. Coincidentally, after the marriage of the Bajau princess to the Brunei prince, a violent storm and typhoon struck, causing the Bajau people to be scattered. Some ended up on the west coast of North Borneo, while others drifted to the Sulu islands in the Philippines.

In their new settlements, agriculture became their primary source of economy, while the sea remained a secondary economic resource. Western scholars believe that the ancestors of the Bajau people originated from the Riau-Lingga Archipelago before migrating to North Borneo as early as the 14th century. This conclusion is based on Bajau folklore as well as cultural, linguistic, and physical similarities.

According to these scholars, Bajau migration was also influenced by trade relations between the Chinese merchants and the growing power of the Brunei and Sulu Sultanates. The Bajau people played a crucial role in supplying a large portion of marine products needed by Chinese traders.

Editor: Kumis Kumis

Source Book: Bajau Pantai Barat (ITBM/UMS)

Image: North Borneo Annual Report 1956

Source: Facebook: SEJARAH NORTH BORNEO/SABAH