jawa

Jawa is a fictional species in the Star Wars universe. They are small, stocky humanoids typically about one meter tall, always seen in brown hooded robes that conceal most of their bodies. Their faces are obscured by masks, with glowing yellow or amber eyes visible behind the eye openings. Jawas are native to arid and desert regions, most notably the planet Tatooine, where they migrate in caravans and operate large mobile bases.

Society and economy. Jawas are nomadic scavengers and traders who salvage scrap, droids, and other mechanical parts from wrecks and abandoned installations. They rely on a barter-based economy and communicate using Jawaese, a high-pitched language often supplemented by signs and gestures. Their mobile workshops are Sandcrawlers, multi-story, tracked vehicles that serve as workshops, storage, and transportation for their operations.

Technology and trade practices. Jawas specialize in acquiring damaged or obsolete technology, repairing or disassembling it for resale. They are known for capturing and recycling droids and other machinery, and they typically prefer negotiation and display of their wares over direct force. Their trade networks are organized into caravans that travel between settlements and ruins, exchanging salvaged goods for credits, parts, and new orders.

In Star Wars media. Jawas are among the galaxy’s most recognizable desert-dwelling traders, appearing in films and expanded universe works. They epitomize scavenging culture within the Star Wars setting and contribute to themes of technology, trade, and encounter in remote worlds.