UNDERSTANDING IDENTITY AND DIASPORA: THE CASE OF THE SAMA-BAJAU OF MARITIME SOUTHEAST ASIA
Abstract: The Sama-Bajau or
the Sinama-speaking peoples are deemed to be the most widely dispersed
indigenous ethnolinguistic 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 thosebrought 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.
Author: Matthew Constancio
Maglana
Journal Code: jpsejarahgg160003
