Buwas Kuning (Yellow Rice) and its Symbolic Functions Among the Sama-Bajau of Malaysia

This article is based on ethnographic data and presents and expands on the symbolic functions of buwas kuning (yellow rice) being prepared and offered by the Sama-Bajau communities in their ritual performances in Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia. The findings show that the practice of offering buwas kuning (as an integral part of the main rituals, such as pag-omboh ) has symbolic latent (unintended and unrecognized) psychological and social consequences on the Sama-Bajau villagers. The community knows that among the functions of buwas kuning are that it spreads fear and risk; creates a link between the physical and spiritual worlds; protects families from curses (sickness, disasters, spirit possessions); maintains the ritual’s authenticity and originality (which satisfies the ancestors and related spirits); causes participation of the community members, especially women; and engenders community support. The latent (yet to some extent known to some community members) functions of the offering of buwas kuning enable the community to check families’ material wealth and integrate the community with its identity. It teaches members to go (or live) through a process of patience (indispensable in rough sea life; also in the dangerous geographic region) and the material gains, as well as the social status enjoyed by the mediums. However, many villagers have some understanding of the latent functions of buwas kuning’s latent consequences. Although many people know about these functions, it is the degree of knowledge about these latent functions that is of interest, as this knowing is meaningful for the survival of ritual practices such as buwas kuning .