The Peoples of “The Wind in the Bamboo”
This is a list of some of the Indigenous peoples written about in “The Wind in the Bamboo.” They were historically defined as “Negrito” groups because of their appearance (dark skin, curly hair, small stature) and have been known as hunter-gatherers living in forests and along seacoasts in Asia. “Negrito” (Spanish for small Black person) is obviously not an ideal term, and is used in quote marks throughout the book.
Andaman Islands, India
Sentinelese: Their own name for themselves is unknown. A population estimated at 40 to 200 living on North Sentinel Island, maintaining minimal contact with outsiders. See my November 2019 Twitter History Thread about the Sentinelese and contact situations.
Onge: The original inhabitants of Little Andaman island, they are now a population of slightly over 100 in two small “reserve” areas.
Great Andamanese: Originally a classification of ten distinct language groups, during the British colonial period the Great Andamanese population decreased drastically; numbering less than 60 by 2012; the last speakers of two of the Great Andamanese languages died in recent years.
Jarawa (aka Ya-eng-nga): This population of more than 400 as of 2012 is still able to function as hunter-gatherers in a “reserve” area, but a controversial road runs through their territory.
Mainland Malaysia
The Orang Asli Indigenous peoples of mainland Malaysia include six groups defined as “Negrito”: Batek, Jahai, Kensiu, Kintak, Lanoh, Mendrik. They number around 4,000 in total. All but the Lanoh are of the Northern Aslian language family.
Many of the Bateks live in Malaysia’s Taman Negara (National Park.) The Kensius, Jahais and other “Negrito” groups also have small populations in southern Thailand.
This is a list of some of the Indigenous peoples written about in “The Wind in the Bamboo.” They were historically defined as “Negrito” groups because of their appearance (dark skin, curly hair, small stature) and have been known as hunter-gatherers living in forests and along seacoasts in Asia. “Negrito” (Spanish for small Black person) is obviously not an ideal term, and is used in quote marks throughout the book.
Andaman Islands, India
Sentinelese: Their own name for themselves is unknown. A population estimated at 40 to 200 living on North Sentinel Island, maintaining minimal contact with outsiders. See my November 2019 Twitter History Thread about the Sentinelese and contact situations.
Onge: The original inhabitants of Little Andaman island, they are now a population of slightly over 100 in two small “reserve” areas.
Great Andamanese: Originally a classification of ten distinct language groups, during the British colonial period the Great Andamanese population decreased drastically; numbering less than 60 by 2012; the last speakers of two of the Great Andamanese languages died in recent years.
Jarawa (aka Ya-eng-nga): This population of more than 400 as of 2012 is still able to function as hunter-gatherers in a “reserve” area, but a controversial road runs through their territory.
Mainland Malaysia
The Orang Asli Indigenous peoples of mainland Malaysia include six groups defined as “Negrito”: Batek, Jahai, Kensiu, Kintak, Lanoh, Mendrik. They number around 4,000 in total. All but the Lanoh are of the Northern Aslian language family.
Many of the Bateks live in Malaysia’s Taman Negara (National Park.) The Kensius, Jahais and other “Negrito” groups also have small populations in southern Thailand.
Batek family, Taman Negara, Malaysia photo E. Mirante
The Philippines
More than 40,000 citizens of the Philippines belong to ethnic groups that have been classified as “Negrito.”
Aeta: The largest “Negrito”-defined population, their homeland is Luzon Island, particularly around Mt. Pinatubo, the volcano that erupted in 1991.
Agta: These coastal and forest people live in eastern Luzon, including Northern Sierra Madre National Park.
Ati: The original inhabitants of Panay, Negros and Boracay islands, now reduced to small populations with severely diminished land ownership.
Other ethnic groups of the Philippines who have been defined as “Negrito” include the Bataks of Palawan Island and the Mamanuas of Mindanao Island.
The Philippines
More than 40,000 citizens of the Philippines belong to ethnic groups that have been classified as “Negrito.”
Aeta: The largest “Negrito”-defined population, their homeland is Luzon Island, particularly around Mt. Pinatubo, the volcano that erupted in 1991.
Agta: These coastal and forest people live in eastern Luzon, including Northern Sierra Madre National Park.
Ati: The original inhabitants of Panay, Negros and Boracay islands, now reduced to small populations with severely diminished land ownership.
Other ethnic groups of the Philippines who have been defined as “Negrito” include the Bataks of Palawan Island and the Mamanuas of Mindanao Island.
Agta family, Luzon Island, Philippines photo E. Mirante
