Maguindanaoan

Maguindanaoan, also spelled Magindanaon, refers to an ethnolinguistic group native to Mindanao in the Philippines. They are concentrated in the province of Maguindanao and surrounding areas and form one of the largest Moro communities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The Maguindanaon are closely linked to the historic Moro polities that dominated central Mindanao.

The Maguindanaon language is an Austronesian tongue spoken by the community and is part of the broader Philippine language family. It is used in daily life, education, and media, and most speakers also use Filipino/Tagalog and English. The language is written in Latin script today, with historical use of Arabic script in some contexts.

The Maguindanaon are predominantly Muslim, with strong influences from Sunni Islam and the Shafi’i school of jurisprudence. Religion shapes many social practices, rites of passage, marriage, and public life. Traditional social organization centers on local leadership under datu and, historically, a sultanate system that played a significant political role in the region. Adat, or customary law, operates alongside formal legal systems in various communities. Cultural heritage includes attire such as the malong, and musical traditions like kulintang ensembles; architectural styles feature the torogan, the residence of a datu or noble family.

Economically, Maguindanaon communities have long relied on agriculture (rice, corn, coconuts), fishing, and trade. In modern times, people engage in diverse occupations across rural and urban areas, with a notable presence in BARMM governance, politics, and regional development. The Maguindanaoan continue to contribute to Mindanao’s cultural and social landscape within the Philippines.