Bagani or magani refers to the class of warrior-leaders of various

Lumad The Lumad are a group of Austronesian indigenous people in the southern Philippines. It is a Cebuano term meaning "native" or "indigenous". The term is short for Katawhang Lumad (Literally: "indigenous people"), the autonym officially adopte ...

ethnic groups An ethnic group or an ethnicity is a grouping of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes that distinguish them from other groups. Those attributes can include common sets of traditions, ancestry, language, history, ...

of the island of

Mindanao Mindanao ( ) ( Jawi: مينداناو) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. Bagani were most notably integral to the traditional society and government of the

Mandaya The Lumad are a group of Austronesian indigenous people in the southern Philippines. It is a Cebuano term meaning "native" or "indigenous". The term is short for Katawhang Lumad (Literally: "indigenous people"), the autonym officially adopte ...

Mansaka The Lumad are a group of Austronesian indigenous people in the southern Philippines. It is a Cebuano term meaning "native" or "indigenous". The term is short for Katawhang Lumad (Literally: "indigenous people"), the autonym officially adopte ...

Manobo The Lumad are a group of Austronesian indigenous people in the southern Philippines. It is a Cebuano term meaning "native" or "indigenous". The term is short for Katawhang Lumad (Literally: "indigenous people"), the autonym officially adopte ...

, and

Bagobo people The Lumad are a group of Austronesian indigenous people in the southern Philippines. It is a Cebuano term meaning "native" or "indigenous". The term is short for Katawhang Lumad (Literally: "indigenous people"), the autonym officially adopte ...

. They usually acquired their status through bravery in battle, fortitude, physical strength, and most importantly, natural charisma and leadership skills. Various bagani of the past have become mythologized as heroes in their communities. Bagani were

datu ''Datu'' is a title which denotes the rulers (variously described in historical accounts as chiefs, sovereign princes, and monarchs) of numerous indigenous peoples throughout the Philippine archipelago. The title is still used today, especial ...

, they had absolute rule over their particular settlements, ranking even higher than the baylan (female shamans). But their actions are still subject to the opinions of the public as well as to the advisory council (itself composed of elder former bagani), which limits abuse of authority. Bagani also enforced the laws in their domains, by capturing and executing criminals. They also led various rituals to the

spirits Spirit or spirits may refer to: Liquor and other volatile liquids * Spirits, a.k.a. liquor, distilled alcoholic drinks * Spirit or tincture, an extract of plant or animal material dissolved in ethanol * Volatile (especially flammable) liquids, ...

as well as protected the places which were sacred to spirits. To become a bagani, one must have killed a set number of enemies in battle. The number varies by locality and ethnic group and ranges from five to as many as thirty. Though the status of the bagani was not hereditary and any commoner can become a bagani, bagani often traced their lineage through other notable bagani. In situations where a ruling bagani dies suddenly, the most suitable son of a bagani can be commonly chosen as a candidate for the next bagani by the advisory council. But they would still have to fulfill the requirements before becoming one. In cases of challengers or candidates who failed to meet the requirements but still refused to withdraw their eligibility, the selection would have to be made by battle between the candidates and their supporters. The bagani were distinguished from other warriors by their clothing (including the headgear), which varies by ethnic group. They regularly engaged in

headhunting Headhunting is the practice of hunting a human and collecting the severed head after killing the victim, although sometimes more portable body parts (such as ear, nose or scalp) are taken instead as trophies. Headhunting was practiced in h ...

and captive-taking raids on enemy villages as well as defend their own settlements from enemy raids of the same nature. They commanded a group of warriors (averaging at around forty to forty-five men). To become a warrior, a commoner must also have killed at least three people in battle. The bagani system survived during the

Spanish colonial period of the Philippines Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...

(1565–1898) due to the limited ability of Spanish colonizers to penetrate deeper into the interiors of the island of Mindanao. But the bagani system and the constant inter-village warfare were actively suppressed during the

American colonial period of the Philippines American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

(1898–1946), finally disappearing completely by the 1930s.

References

{{Reflist Filipino nobility History of the Philippines (900–1565) Social class in the Philippines History of the Philippines (1565–1898)

See also

References