Local communities
A Sabah government account of the Bajau Sama cultural centre describes efforts to preserve customs, language and cultural identity across communities in the state. Its inclusion of eastern coastal groups indicates breadth within the association’s concerns. This supports a diverse community context rather than one uniform account of how every Sama-Bajau person lives.
Boats & craftsmanship
Sabah Tourism Board explains that lepa are traditional Bajau boats used for transportation at sea over generations. In Semporna’s Regatta Lepa, decorated boats become a focus for celebrating and preserving these traditions. This gives maritime heritage a specific, documented expression without extending boat-based living to all communities associated with the broader Sama-Bajau identity.
Sources & references · 1
Sabah Tourism Board · Regatta Lepa 2025Community diversity
A University of Malaya field report situates research on Bajau Laut, also called Sama Dilaut, in Kampung Air, Semporna. Naming that particular community helps keep maritime accounts precise. Its circumstances should not be treated as a universal description of Sama-Bajau heritage, which also includes people and cultural institutions in other parts of Sabah.
