Sama Culture PDF

A M A / S B E M A L T R I SA e s e n t e d b y Pr r u b i a s C a b a r r i c a P. a m i a E a g u d Z e e O. C R o c...

A M A / S B E M A L T R I SA e s e n t e d b y Pr r u b i a s C a b a r r i c a P. a m i a E a g u d Z e e O. C R o c h e l R. B o y l J o y Shyre SA M A The Sama, also called Samal or Isama. The etymological origin of the word is not yet clear, although one conjecture is that “Sama” may have derived from the word sama- sama, meaning “togetherness.”  Language The language of the Sama is Siama or Sinama, also called Bahasa Sama, Bisla Sinama, and Pamong Sinama.  Language In Sinama: “Naku sagaw aku gabuh ini,” which translates to “I love you.” Each variation of the language, although similar, can differ slightly in pronunciation and vocabulary across Sama communities. Location The archipelago is divided into island groups, the major ones being Basilan, Balangingi or Samales, Sulu, Pangutaran, Tapul, Siasi, and Tawi- Tawi. The Tawi-Tawi group, is where the Sama population is concentrated. They are also found in other islands of the Sulu Archipelago  SUBGROUPING/HOUSE'S The Sama may also form strand settlements called komkoman, which are accessible only by boat. A komkoman consists of four to six houses, spaced five to six meters apart to allow for the passage of a vinta. KOMKOMAN SUBGROUPING/HOUSE'S Sama Paglahat - who have settled on land; Sama Talon - who live in the interior and subsist mainly on farming; Sama Lipid (Littoral Sama)- who live in clusters of stilt houses on the seashore or in coastal waters; and Sama Dilaut (ocean Sama)- also known as Badjao or sea gypsies SAMA PAGLAHAT SAMA PAGLIPID  Economic Activities Sama Balimbing, for drying food and sea products;  Economic Activities Sama Sibutu, for boat building and wood carving;  Economic Activities Sama Simunul are known for buras (rattan mat with painted designs) and pottery making  Economic Activities Sama Tapul, for producing atis (sugar apple) and mandarin oranges; Sama Laminusa, for tepo (pandanus mats) weaving, bag making, and pearl diving; and the Sama Manubul, for fishing.  Economic Activities The dominant art form in the Sulu Archipelago is called ukkil, which may mean the act of carving wood or the design which characterizes the people’s textile, wood carvings, mats, and metal engraving. Economic Activities  Religion/beliefs The Sama’s belief system has been described as folk Islam because it is a combination of Islamic and folk beliefs. The majority of the Sama people practice Islam, with a significant influence of folk Islam and traditional animist beliefs. Some Sama communities have adopted Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism. They believe in spirits, ancestors, and supernatural beings, which are often revered and respected. They also believe that the world is divided into Dar-al-Islam (Muslim territory) and Dar-al-Harb (non- Muslim territory).  Way of clothing Men's attire: Everyday wear: Patadjung or Sawwal kantiu rolled up into bahag for work. Special occasions: Sawwal kuput-mahabah (long-tight trousers) with badjuh-lapit (jacket) Badjuh-lapi: Hip-long collarless jacket with decorative elements  Way of clothing Women's attire: Sablay: loose- sleeve blouse worn with patadjung or Sawwal kantiu Biyatawi: a blouse made of plain material like satin and is ornamented with tambuku (gold or silver buttons) on the breast, shoulders, and cuffs. DANCE The Igal is a traditional dance of the Sama people of Tawi-Tawi Island and the western provinces of Mindanao. It is a fast but gentle dance. The Igal is performed at many occasions, including weddings, and sometimes to welcome tourists. AFFAIRS THEY CELEBRATE Weddings (Pesta Perkahwinan) Birthdays (Hari Ulang Tahun) Eid al-Fitr (Hari Raya Puasa) Eid al-Adha (Hari Raya Haji)  Festival The Agal-Agal Festival is held in Tawi- Tawi every 25th of September to showcase its seaweed industry and to celebrate the history and culture of the Sama, the Sama Badjao, Jama Mapun, and Tausug. One of the highlights of the festival is a parade of floats that feature indigenous houseboat designs.  Festival Agal-Agal Festival demonstrates how the network esteem the significance of the ocean growth industry which has been a piece of their living. Agal-Agal Festival FOOD AND DELICACIES Jā- A rice cookie made of strands of thin batter cooked in oil to form a kind of mesh, and rolled up while still hot. Panyām- A heavy pancake made of rice flour and sugar, fried in deep oil. Oko’-oko’- A sea urchin cooked with rice inside it. FOOD AND DELICACIES Pali’ kambing- A banana batter, fried. Cassava - A perennial woody shrub with an edible root. Juwalan- Bananas glazed with sugar. HARAM AND HALAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 1 2 KULINTANG AGONG MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 3 4 GIMBA KUBING COURTSHIP Courtship may be enhanced by the parkata-an manusiyah, which is a boy or girl’s ilmuh to win the loved one’s attention. A girl, however, can counteract the power of the boy’s ilmuh with a habay, a piece of white cloth on which verses are written. This is wrapped in black cloth and worn like a belt. Its power is strengthened if it is exposed to incense smoke on an early Friday evening.  MARRIAGE A young couple plans their marriage with parental consent and involvement from relatives. The boy’s family visits the girl’s family to formally ask for her hand, negotiating the bride's dowry through designated spokespersons. Once a final agreement has been reached, the boy's family prepares to raise the dowry.  MARRIAGE Both families celebrate the successful negotiations with a meal hosted by the male’s family. For ten days before the wedding, the girl undergoes isolation known as tambu-un. The wedding day is announced with drums two to three days prior. On the wedding day, festivities begin at the bride's house with singing and dancing. The bride receives a ritual bath from the imam, who later conducts a ceremony with the groom, involving incense and Arabic chants. The bride will then be asked 3 times if he accepts the groom. The couple stays with the bride’s family, with consummation occurring on the third night. That night, a cloth is checked for signs of the bride’s virginity; if none are found, the dowry must be returned. The bride's virginity is announced publicly on the seventh day during a celebration called tibaw-pitu. Islamic law allows polygyny up to four wives, who all must be treated equally. However, polygyny is usually practiced only by the datu or the affluent. The husband must secure the permission of his first wife and parents-in-law. The first wife is also dominant over the other wives when it comes to housekeeping. In case of divorce, which Islamic law also allows, the bridal dowry or a fraction of it is returned to the groom, the amount depending on the length of the marriage, number of children, and cause for divorce. A long marriage usually requires no settlement.  DEATH During burial, the deceased is not embalmed, but rather the corpse is washed, wrapped in a shroud, offered ritual prayers, and buried within 12 hours. It is placed in a liyang (niche), instead of a coffin, and buried in the ground 1.8 meters deep. A sunduk (grave marker), pointed or round shaped for the male and scalloped for the female, is placed on the burial site. Sometimes a kubul (grave frame) surrounds it.  H A N K t Y O U