How Bajo Fishermen Survive Weeks at Sea: The Babangi Tradition

For the Bajo fishermen in Monsongan Village, Banggai Laut, sea voyages are more than just a quest for fish. They practice a tradition called "babangi," which involves spending weeks, and historically even months, away from their village at sea. This tradition exemplifies how knowledge of nature, social connections, and economic necessities converge in a single journey. The Bajo community has been settled in Monsongan since the early 1940s. As a society deeply intertwined with the ocean, they have inherited generations of knowledge about winds, currents, seasons, coral reef locations, and fish behavior. This wisdom is not acquired from books but accumulated through experience and passed down through oral tradition. In the past, babangi was undertaken using sailboats. Fishermen caught bottom fish with hooks and lines, trading their catch for rice, sago, or tubers. Families could join these extended voyages, living in semi-permanent shelters called "babaroh," built on atolls or small islands. Today, the form of babangi has evolved. Engines have replaced sails, and voyages are typically made by small groups of five to six boats. Wives and children no longer participate, and the duration at sea has shortened to about two weeks. Nevertheless, women remain symbolically connected through certain taboos observed while their husbands are at sea. Group work is a crucial aspect of this tradition. Fishermen bring fuel, fresh water, rice, and supplies from the village. If a member lacks provisions, falls ill, or experiences boat damage, others will provide assistance. Solidarity at sea is not merely a cultural value but a survival strategy. The sustainability of babangi is heavily dependent on the health of coral reefs. Fishermen refer to fishing grounds at...