Tausug or Suluk is the name of an Islamized tribal group in the Sulu archipelago, and is taken from the

words tau meaning man and sug meaning current.

Traditionally the Tausug are sailors, pearl divers and traders, their ancestral homelands in the Sulu
Archipelago have vigorous tidal currents that flow from the Sulu and China Seas to the Celebes Sea. This
translates literally into the name people of the current.

This native tribe, the first group in the archipelago to be converted to Islam, possess a courage that is
beyond doubt, their bravery is supposed to be unquestionable, therefore the Tausug are often named
Tau Maisug or brave people. They are proud Muslims renowned for their fierce resistance in the face of
Spanish Conquerors, for 300 years the Tausug and the Spanish were engaged in almost continuous
warfare, which ended when the Spaniards left the Philippines. The Tausug regards themselves superior
to other Philippine Muslims and still live a combative way of life, running away from a fight is considered
shameful. One old Tausug proverb says: Hanggang maybuhay, may pag asa, meaning; Never admit defeat
as long as you live.

This homogeneous tribe is a blend of Malay and Indonesian races; they are widespread in the Philippines
and can be found mainly in coastal area communities. They are distinctive from the Badjao Tribe by the
aspects of their own culture and because they speak their own language. In the past the Tausug were
boisterous pirates who infested the waters from the Sulu seas but nowadays make a living from
agriculture, raising water buffaloes and fishing. Aside from being known as the best, gallant and
ferocious freedom fighters of the world the Tausug are famous for being the best pearl divers in the
world. Fishing is done in off-shore waters from motorized boats using bamboo traps, hook and line and
fishing nets.

The strong-willed Tausug follow the Sunni Islamic beliefs and practices, Sunni Islam is the largest branch
of Islam, the word Sunni comes from the word Sunnah meaning tradition. But indigenous beliefs endure,
apart from Allah or Tuhan, the Tausug also believe in spirits that inhabit nature, especially rocks and
trees, like the evil spirits named saytan and unseen creatures called jinn. According to the Tausug the
human soul has four souls which leave the body when he dies, the life-soul related with blood, the spirit-
soul connected with dreams, the soul of breath, associated with life and the transcendental soul. The
body of the deceased will go to hell, to receive punishment for the sins committed while he was living.
Various charms and belief in spirits, in order to gain success and good fortune, are still a great part of
their daily life.
Tausug folk stories tell of great ancestors and legends, a favourite legend is the Kaawn of Bud
Tumantangis, Mount Tumantangis, the highest peak in the province is called as such because, when
sailing away, sailors cry when they lose sight of this landmarks and when they return, upon seeing again
its silhouette from far away. The name Tumantangis comes from the word tangis, which means to cry,
and bud meaning mountain, known to locals as the weeping mountain. The beautiful tomb of Sharif Abu
Bakr, the founder of the Sulu Sultanate still exists on one of the slopes of Mount Tumantangis. The
believes of the Tausug can be seen in their rituals and dances, many of them reflecting nature, such as
the ebb and flow of the waves of the ocean, referring to their travels at sea.

The Pangalay, a traditional Tausug wedding dance and popularly known as the fingernail dance is one of
the most well known dances, accompanied by a kulintang ensemble. This dance is distinctive because
dancers use metal or golden nail extenders or janggay, which make the fingers stiff and set them apart
from the thumbs. The Pangalay imitates the mythical Sarimanok bird, a reincarnation of a goddess who
loved a mortal man, after the dance, she removes her nails and drops them to the ground, hoping that a
man will gather them and will claim her for his bride. A Tausug marriage is usually arranged by parents,
with the exception of the children of brothers, first and second cousins are favoured spouses.
Marriageable women are kept in relative seclusion to protect their value to their family.

The Tausug tribe is one of the Muslim minorities in the Southern Philippines; they still retain many of the
ancient practices and strong, dynamic traditions of their particular tribal heritages but are experiencing a
great deal of change. The traditional Tausug culture is diminishing because of the influences of the
modern Philippine society. Many of the Tausug are living below poverty level and have been displaced
from their homes and livelihoods by the wars and armed conflicts between rebel groups and the
Philippine government.

The Tausug, a rough tribe that roamed the Southern Seas and resisted foreign intruders at land is at
present caught, in the middle of nowhere.

ABOUT THE ART AND MUSIC.....

Most of the Tausog art Is evident in the implements they use. The ukkil design an artistic and colorful
combination of shapes, is seen in almost anything of value to the Tausug's. Tausug implements such as
fishing boats, weapons, household articles, utensils and musical instruments can be easily identified
through this design.

ABOUT THEIR ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES.....

Tausugs are good farmers. They cultivate corn, sweet potatoes, and vegetables for their daily
subsistence. Coconuts, cassava and abaca are grown for commercial purposes. However, they have to
import all their rice.

Those who live by the lakeshore, rivers and seacoasts are good fishermen. They catch many varieties of
fish, sharks, sea cucumbers and pearls.

ABOUT THEIR HOUSES

The ancient dwelling of the Tausugs are built mostly with indigenous materials. Joti is a plant they use for
posts while sent leaves are utilized for walls. Digpi, the bark of a specific tree, is used to fasten walls and
posts. The digpi 6-8 feet long which is pre-soaked in salt water for sometime then dried before it is used.

Most of the Tausug homes have spacious unpartitioned rooms. There is a verandah or balcony in front of
the house. The kitchen is built separately from the rest of the house to prevent smoke from entering the
main room. Most of the Tausugs build their stairways facing the rising sun. They believe that fortune will
come early in the morning if one's stairway faces the east.

ABOUT THEIR MANNER OF DRESSING

The Tausug men wears tight fitting pants and shirt, a sash around the waist and a matching turban. Their
clothes are made of cotton which they weave locally. Oftentimes, men shave their heads or cut their hair
short of signify their social status. The women wear matching sarong of the Malay type. They wear brass
accessories to their blouses or use as necklace or bracelets.
THE MAGUINDANAOS CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS.....

Another important Muslim group are the Maguindanaos. They live by the Rio Grande lake.

The Maguindanaos observe a code of conduct called LUWARAN. Among the provisions of this code is
one on borrowing and losses. A Maguindanao is expected to return promptly any time borrowed from
another person. Failure to do is considered as stealing. Anything who fails to return an object has to
replace it completely or else, one Suffers punishment.

A Maguindanao considers an oath or a promise as very important. Anyone who makes a promise or an
oath must fulfill it. Non-fulfillment could mean danger to him! Pre-arranged marriages are also common
among this group. They believe that this type of marriage leads to a happy, successful and enduring
relationships.

ABOUT THEIR MATERIAL CULTURE THE HOUSES

Maguindanao houses are made of bamboo and nipa palms. Their floors are made out of available tree
trunks. They can beautifully convert any material into a useful part of the house. Modernization has
come to the community and many hot now use galvanized iron instead of nipa palms for roofing.

Their manner of dressing is similar to that of other Muslims. They wear bright cotton materials for their
malong. However, many of the women have adapted the western style of clothing worn by women in
the urban area.

Introduction / History

The Tausug, meaning 'people of the sea current', are also known as Suluks or Sulu in Sabah. Originally
from the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines, they migrated to Sabah in the 18th century and have now
become established Sabahans. The Tausug people can be found mainly in coastal area communities in
eastern Sabah.
In the past, the Tausug made their living as pirates but now rely on agriculture, fishing, and livestock
raising to sustain their lives. They are distinct from the Bajau as they speak their own language, also
called Tausug, and by aspects of their own culture.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The main means of livelihood among the Tausug people are farming and fishing. Some farmers still use
swidden agriculture, by which fields are cleared by slashing down the trees and brush, letting them dry,
and then burning them. The soil, fertililized by the ash, is then planted with rice. Their main crops
include dry and wet rice, coconut, coffee, yams, cassava, corn, and various kinds of fruit. Fishing is done
from motorized boats in offshore waters using fishnets, hook and line, or bamboo traps. They also raise
livestock, including water buffaloes, cattle, goats, chickens, geese, and ducks.

On special occasions and weddings, they perform their traditional dance called daling-daling (a dance in
which dancers wear curved metallic nails on the finger tips) and sing Sulu pantun 'Sulu poems'
accompanied by a musical instrument called gabbang 'bamboo xylophone'.

The typical Tausug house is built in a rectangular shape; the walls are constructed with timber or
bamboo beams and enclosed with coconut or nipa palm leaves. It has a thatched roof and sits on stilts
six to eight feet above the ground. The house is surrounded by a series of raised porches leading to a
separate kitchen. Usually, a wall is built around it for protection.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Sunni Islam is the majority religion of the Tausug. As the children grow, they have tutors that give them
religious instruction from the Qu'ran (Islamic Holy Book). Despite the influence of Islam, they retain
some of their animistic beliefs and practices associated with the spiritual world. They believe in
environmental spirits that may cause either good fortune or sickness.

Their view of life after death mixes Islamic beliefs with non-orthodox beliefs in spirits. They believe that a
person has four souls which leave his body when he dies. The body of the deceased goes to hell, where
the punishment of his sins will be revealed according to his wrongdoings while he was living.

What Are Their Needs?

Many of the Tausug people are living below poverty level. More efficient farming methods and more
innovative fishing techniques will help raise the standard of living among the people. There is also a need
for improved health care. Pray that God will send helpers to the Tausug to help meet their spiritual
needs and be a channel of blessing. A translation has been completed in the Tausug language. Pray that
God would give the Tausug access to it and give them receptive hearts.

Prayer Points

* Scripture Prayers for the Tausug, Sulu in Malaysia.

Profile Source: Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK Copyrighted © Used with permission

General Info

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People Name General Tausug

People Name in Country Tausug, Sulu

World Population 1,526,000

Total Countries 3

Indigenous No

Progress Scale 1 ●

Unreached Yes

Frontier People Group Yes

GSEC 2 (per PeopleGroups.org)

Pioneer Workers Needed 4

Alternate Names Joloano Sulu, Joloanon, Moro Joloano, Sulu, Suluk, Taw sug

People ID 15295

ROP3 Code 109891

Ethnicity

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Affinity Bloc Malay Peoples

People Cluster Filipino, Muslim

People Group Tausug

Ethnic Code MSY44x

Geography

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CountryMalaysia

Region Asia, Southeast

Continent Asia

10/40 Window Yes

Persecution Rank 42 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)

Location in Country Sabah: coastal areas of Semporna, Sandakan, Tawau, Lahad Datu, Beluran, and
Kudat districts. Coastal areas of Kota Kinabalu, Papar, and Labuan. Possibly also Sebatik Island.. Source:
Ethnologue 2016

Maps

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Tausug, Sulu in Malaysia

Languages

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Primary Language Tausug (219,000 speakers)

Language Code tsg Ethnologue Listing

Total Languages 1

People Groups Speaking Tausug

Resources

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Primary Language: Tausug

Bible Translation ▲ Status (Years)

Bible-Portions Yes (1918-2005)

Bible-New Testament Yes (1985-2002)

Bible-Complete No

Bible-NT Text Online

Possible Print Bibles

Amazon

Forum Bible Agencies

National Bible Societies

World Bible Finder

World Bibles

Resource Type ▲ Resource Name

Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching (GRN)

Film / Video God's Story Video

Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tausug

Text / Printed Matter Bible: The New Testament in Tausug

Religion

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Primary Religion: Islam

Major Religion ▲ Percent

Buddhism

0.00 %

Christianity (Evangelical 0.01 %)

0.01 %
Ethnic Religions

0.00 %

Hinduism

0.00 %

Islam

100.00 %

Non-Religious

0.00 %

Other / Small

0.00 %

Unknown

0.00 %

Christian Segments ▲ Percent

Anglican

Unknown

Independent

Unknown

Orthodox

Unknown

Other Christian

Unknown

Protestant

Unknown

Roman Catholic
Unknown

Sources

Photo Source Copyrighted © 2019 Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK All rights reserved. Used with
permission

Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center

Profile Source Southeast Asia Link - SEALINK Copyrighted © Used with permission

Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Read more

Get Involved Register Ministry Activity Prayer Cards

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welcome suggested updates.

A displayed zero can mean true zero, a very small rounded number or sometimes unknown. Blanks mean
an unknown value.

The data is sometimes not as precise as it appears. Values for %Christian Adherent and %Evangelical
(which determine unreached status) are often informed estimates, some more accurate than others. We
recommend against using %Christian Adherent and %Evangelical for precise calculations.

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