The sea nomads, a tribe of Borneo living in his little paradise

Photos : The Bajau, the last nomads of the sea.

Traditionally, the Bajau or Badjaos resided in small boats, sailing day and night at the same time as the currents, counting only on their fishing gear to earn their lives. That's how they slipped the nomad title or "Gypsies of the Sea" . Some lived in hiding and many still live in the middle of nowhere, in floating villages built on coral reefs. Today, many have come to live on the farmland, on small islands, but continue to develop their perfect knowledge of the oceans, while selling their small-scale fish.

Rehahn , a French photographer who has already made us travel Hoi An in Vietnam , and through the eyes of anonyms in the world, spent a few days with these “ nomads of the sea”. He will forever keep in the depths of his heart the feeling of peace and serenity that emerges from these places, of those people who have nothing in common with our lives and who live only for (and on) water.

For more information, Réhahn Photography is on Facebook on his official website .

The Bajau, the nomads of the sea, are neither recognized nor accepted by neighbouring countries. They are there by choice: the choice to live in paradise, their little paradise. The tribe has no knowledge of reading or writing. They don't know their ages either. They know about what age is, but time doesn’t matter much to them, only the present moment counts. Regardless of the age of each, everyone finds its place and helps fish.

Women give birth here in their cabin on pilots. Most of the Bajaus are born, live and die on their “land”, if one could say.

Young children are constantly on the boats, learning to dive or swim, while those who have reached the age of 8 are already busy fishing.

Unfortunately today, poverty, the repression of the authorities and the evolution of the marine ecosystem are destroying their unique way of life, as shown by this recent report of Seven to eight :