A Bakuran was a Human native to the planet Bakura. Their relative remoteness, along with decades spent independent from the Galactic Republic, fostered a culture that differed significantly from the rest of the galaxy before the Galactic Empire conquered them.
The majority of Bakurans were the descendants of colonists from the Bakur Mining Corporation, who first arrived on Bakura around 150 BBY. Shortly after this, the Bakurans gained their independence from the corporation's control, establishing a Bakuran Senate and electing Prime Ministers. The lineage of Deredith Arden, who spearheaded the Bakur Mining Corporation's expedition, became the leaders of the Bakuran government. Their first major historical event was a droid uprising which occurred in 97 BBY.
During the Clone Wars, the Confederacy of Independent Systems briefly utilized Bakura as a base. However, the Bakurans remained largely neutral throughout the conflict, focusing more on their own internal disagreements. By 1 ABY, these internal issues made Bakura vulnerable to conquest by the Galactic Empire. Despite some initial resistance, the Bakurans were subjugated until 4 ABY, when they collaborated with the Alliance to Restore the Republic to drive out both the invading Ssi-ruuk and the Imperial forces during the Invasion of Bakura.
The Bakurans became supporters of the newly formed New Republic, but reaffirmed their independent status by 18 ABY. Despite this, they aided the New Republic during the Corellian Crisis, deploying the Bakuran Defense Fleet to fight alongside the New Republic in the Battle of Centerpoint Station. Even as they engaged in a renewed Ssi-ruuk offensive together with the Galactic Alliance during the battle at Bakura, the Bakurans maintained their tradition of independence.
Due to their homeworld's isolation, Bakurans had limited interactions with non-humans, with the exception of the Kurtzen, Bakura's native species. This, along with the Ssi-ruuk invasion, unfortunately triggered xenophobic tendencies in many Bakurans, particularly toward non-humans with more alien appearances. Bakurans also felt uneasy around droids, stemming from the droid uprising of 97 BBY.
Most Bakurans adhered to the principles of the Cosmic Balance, a religious belief that posited every action in the universe created an equal and opposite reaction elsewhere (for example, if one person's life improved, another's life would have to become worse.) This belief also fostered suspicion towards the Jedi Order, whose power they believed disrupted the balance of the universe, necessitating a great evil to restore it.
Bakurans were well-known for their innovations in starship and repulsorcraft technology. The Empire was initially drawn to Bakura by its repulsorlift factories, seeking to gain control of them. Repulsorcraft were so common on their planet that even standard furniture was replaced with repulsor chairs.