Baweans

Historically, the Baweans were (or at some high degree still) originally belongs to the Madurese group in general. However, the Baweans gained official national Indonesian recognition as a distinct (creole) ethnic group which differs them from their 'pure Madurese' ancestors on Madura, mostly due to their multiple inter-connected historical lineage backgrounds; for instance, common intermarriage phenomenon with the Javanese, an ethnic group originally from the Java Island located in southern Bawean Island (blooming intensively since the conquest of Majapahit era over Bawean until present-day).^[7] The national Indonesiaʼs Offficial Standard Indonesian Dictionary defines the Baweans as “mixed people (creole) of Javanese, Madurese, Banjars, Bugis, and Makassar-origin which occurred since hundreds of years ago”.^[8] The term Bawean itself is a demonym corresponds to their island-based common origin, rooted in Old Javanese etymologically.

The homeland of the Baweans is the island of Bawean in the Java Sea. As a result of continous migration, nowadays the Baweans could be found in all regions across Indonesian Archipelago, especially in Western Indonesia region nearby the Java Sea. Some small diasporic population (which mostly considered or viewed as ethnic minority group) of Baweans also can be found in several countries outside of Indonesia, especially across the Maritime Southeast Asia and Oceania, such as in Singapore, Australia, Vietnam,^[9] Malaysia, etc.

As part of the wider Javanese cultural sphere, the culture possessed by the Baweans shared quite similar cultural traits to those Javanese ethnic or another Eastern Javans in general. The arts and crafts of Baweans generally are following those in Java, such as the batik-making culture, the martial art of pencak and silat, the prominent usage of kris dagger, etc. However, the Bawean people also quite well-known for their ꦠꦶꦏꦂ (tikar, lit. 'plaited mat') handicraft tradition adorned with intricate Bawean's cultural patterns which symbolize their ethnic identity; these cultural practice is officially recognized by Indonesian government as integral part of national's Intangible Cultural Heritage.^[10]

Cultural architecture

Dhurung

Dhurung is one of the traditional architectures of the Baweans usually built on the side or in front of the traditional Bawean house, it is not much different to their ancestors architectures, namely the pendhapa of Javanese.^[11] The dhurung commonly functioned as the outdoor meeting point to welcome the non-formal guests (traditionally speaking, non-formal guests means the guests that came only for having a casual talks, not the one who are going to make important deals or agreements), apart from that, the dhurung also traditionally functioned as the barn to store the harvested rice or another crops.^[11]

Cultural clothing

Main articles: Batik, Kebaya, Sarong, and Tenun

Following their ancestors whose originally came from Java and Madura islands, the Bawean people usually wore the cultural clothing tradition of ultimate Javanese origin, which may include the prominent usage of kebaya for women as well as the batik loincloth (sarong) for both gender, some Majapahit naval flag's derived clothing may also apparent on the island which exhibits their Madurese and Eastern Javanese kinship. One of the popular Batik-making traditions possessed by the Baweans is called the batik penaber, characterized by its prominent depiction of Bawean's cultural motifs.^[12] Administratively part of Gresik in mainland Java, some Bawean islanders in Bawean Islands also preserved the tenun Gresik tradition, which is part of the larger tenun (Indonesian for 'woven fabric') uniquely native to Gresik.

According to anthropological and linguistic studies, the Baweans speak the Bawean Madurese, a western dialect of Madurese language^[2] closely related to the Bangkalan Madurese spoken natively in Bangkalan (Madura Island) with >80% to 94%^[13] dialectical similarity.^[3] Part of Javanic languages family, some Javanese (especially through Old Javanese) linguistic elements also apparent within the Bawean Madurese (as well as Madurese in general). However, the Baweans in some villages still preserve their spoken language in full Javanese, such as in the Diponggo village.^[3] These language variety is traditionally written in both Javanese (following the Javanese script of Standard Madurese)^[a] and Pegon (Java-Arabic) scripts, but nowadays it has gradually written using the Latin script as well (following the Standard Madurese romanization).

The Baweans traditionally are fishermen, farmers, gardeners, craftsmen, Tenun weavers, and some of them succeed as businessmen. Descended from Javanese and Madurese sailors, back in ancient times, the Baweans also recorded as one of notable 'maritime people' who were socially active dealing with foreign (non-native Indonesians) traders such as with the Arabs, Indians, Chinese, etc and even regarded as one of the 'maritime axis' people of Indonesia;^[14] these can be examined through some archaeological findings in Bawean Island, from ancient harbours sites to the Arabic-carved gravestones which dates back to pre-Islamic era.^[14]

Most of modern-day Baweans are Muslims (the followers of Islam), predominantly adhered to Sunni of Nahdlatul Ulama (Native Indonesian Muslim's religious sect organization). Some religious-based festive traditions also possessed by the Baweans, such as the Molod to commemorate the birthday of Muhammad, etc.^[15][16]

• Bawean – the native island of the Baweans
• Bawean deer – an endemic deer native to Bawean Island
• Bawean Airport – an airport in Bawean Island