Preserving Tradition: The Bajuni Legacy
Traceability helps in developing more equitable, sustainable, and healthy food systems. For Kumbatia, knowing where our seafood comes from also means knowing about and honoring the cultures that our harvesters come from. The vast majority of the fishermen we work with in Lamu belong to the Bajuni tribe. We’d like to tell you a little bit about their history and traditions.
Originally from the Bajuni Islands of southern Somalia, many relocated to Kenya due to a war with the Orma (an Oromo clan) that displaced them from their ancestral homeland. Today it is estimated that approximately 90,000 Bajuni reside in Kenya, with only 3,000 to 10,000 remaining in their native Somalia.
The Bajuni culture is a unique blend of Arab and Bantu traditions, resulting from centuries of intermarriage between Arabs and Africans. Bajunis additionally trace their ancestry to Persian, Malay, Indonesian, and other Somali ethnic groups. Their language, Kitikuu, is one of the many Swahili dialects spoken amongst the Lamu communities. Bajunis have always made their living from the Indian Ocean, engaging in fishing, marine trading, and shipbuilding. Women follow traditional practices by wearing a black buibui garment in public and engaging primarily in household duties and farming activities.
The Bajuni people adhere to Islamic principles. Community elders and Qadis (Muslim judges) support the society with conflict resolution. Children begin their education at the age of six in Muslim schools, where they learn to read the Quran and perform daily prayers. Music and dance, influenced by Indian, Somali, and Arabic traditions, play a significant role in their cultural celebrations. In Lamu today, dhow (sailboat) racing is a very popular sport within the community.
Bajunis form the backbone of the local fishing industry in Northeastern Kenya. Their expertise in artisanal fishing methods has forever sustained both their livelihoods and the marine ecosystems around which they reside. Despite facing immense socioeconomic and environmental challenges, the Bajuni people have always maintained their cultural identity with great pride.
Across the world, industrialized fishing and climate change, amongst other factors, greatly threatens traditional fishing societies. Being a fisherman is oftentimes more than just someone’s job - it is also a big part of who they are. Just like how conserving the environment is important, preserving fishing cultures is also something that must be prioritized.
