Badu people facts for kids

The Badu people are an Indigenous Australian group who live on Badu Island in the central-west part of the Torres Strait. They are part of the larger Torres Strait Islander people.

Speaking Their Language

The Badu people and their neighbours on Mabuiag Island traditionally speak a language called Kalaw Lagaw Ya. This language is part of a bigger group of languages known as the Pama-Nyungan language family.

Badu Island's Environment

Badu Island is one of the largest islands in the Torres Strait. It's shaped like a circle, about 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) wide. A narrow channel separates it from Moa Island to its west. The waters around Badu Island have strong tides that can move very fast. The island itself is mostly rocky and has few trees. However, the northern part of the island has thick mangrove forests along its edges.

A Look at History and Reputation

Badu Island became well-known after a book called The Wild White Man of Badu was published in 1950 by Ion Idriess. This book gave the island a reputation for a historical practice that involved taking the heads of enemies. This practice was a ritual and was common across the Torres Strait in the past. It involved special tools like a cane hoop and a bamboo knife.

Early European Encounters

One of the first Europeans to sail near Badu Island was Willem Janszoon in his ship, the Duyfken, as early as 1605. He was returning to the East Indies after exploring New Guinea. His impression of the area was that it was a wild land with fierce people. Later, William Bligh mapped Badu Island and Mabuiag Island.

In June 1846, there were conflicts between Badu islanders and Europeans from a ship called the Thomas Lord. The ship had anchored near the island while looking for trepang, a type of sea creature.