Traditional Sama Boat Building
Boats are an important component of the lives of the sama people of Tawi-Tawi in Southern Philippines. The Sama use boats for various purposes including dwelling, fishing, and transportation, and possess many different kinds of boats, including lepa (house boats) and bog-go(fishing boats). Such boats are built with strong wood known locally as lupanga. The boat-building process is followed by a celebration called duwaa, which is performed to pray for prosperity and safety. The increasing prevalence of land-based lifestyles has led to a significant decline in boat-building practice, but it nonetheless remains an important part of Sama life.
Philippines
2018