Illanun

The Iranun are an ethnic group of Mindanao, Philippines and the west coast of Sabah, Malaysia, in 25 villages around the Kota Belud and Lahad Datu districts; also in Kudat and Likas, Kota Kinabalu. Their current population is estimated to be around 25,000-30,000 (2006 est).

For centuries, the Illanun were regarded as the fiercest pirates in the Malay world. It is thought that the Malay word for pirate, 'lanun', derives from the word Illanun. Originally from the area around Lake Lanao in southern Mindanao, Illanun colonies spread from Sumatra though the Sulu Archipelago, and the east coast of Borneo. Most Illanun are Muslim. Their language is part of the Austronesian family, and is most closely related to Maranao of the Philippines. Its ISO code is ISO 639-3 ill. Historically, the Iranun were given the exonym Illanun during the British colonial era.