Sama

Location: Primarily in Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and parts of Zamboanga.

Culture: Known for their maritime culture and boat-building skills. The Sama people are also known for their traditional tubug (fishing), panggal (dance), and colorful woven textiles.

Economy: Fishing, boat building, and agriculture.

The Sama primarily reside in the southern part of the Sulu Archipelago in the southwestern Philippines. Additionally, large communities of Sama are found along the northeastern coasts of Borneo, especially in Sabah, Malaysia, where they are referred to as Bajau.

Due to their mobility, widespread presence throughout the Southeast Asian archipelago, and varied classification within and across political boundaries, obtaining an exact population count for the Sama peoples has been challenging. Estimates in the early 21st century generally ranged from 500,000 to 950,000, depending on different social and linguistic criteria.