In Borneo, young Bajau struggle for a place to belong: 'If I don't have papers, my children won't either. I want to break this cycle.'
- Posted on September 26, 2026
- By Le Monde
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
The Bajau people of Malaysian Borneo face systemic statelessness after abandoning their seafaring traditions. Young Bajau are establishing grassroots educational initiatives and advocating for citizenship rights to break cycles of marginalization. Their activism challenges institutional barriers while preserving cultural identity in increasingly hostile political environments.
Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.
In Borneo, young Bajau struggle for a place to belong: 'If I don't have papers, my children won't either. I want to break this cycle.'
Youth in hostile environments (7/7). In early 2026, photographer Mathilde Mazars traveled to the Malaysian part of Borneo to meet the Bajau people. Since being forced to settle, this nomadic fishing community has been rendered stateless and pushed to the margins of society. Refusing to accept this fate, Bajau youth have built their own educational and cultural structures and are fighting to claim their rights.
