Minangkabau people

Minangkabau people are an ethnic group indigenous to the Minangkabau Highlands of West Sumatra, Indonesia. They are the largest matrilineal society in the world, with property, family name and land passing down from mother to daughter. The Minangkabau are strongly Islamic, but also follow their ethnic traditions, or adat.

Etymology

The name Minangkabau is thought to be a conjunction of two words, minang ("victorious") and kabau ("buffalo"). According to legend, this name was adopted when the Minangkabau people successfully defeated invaders from the Majapahit Empire.

Culture

Minangkabau culture is matrilineal and patriarchal, with property and land passing down from mother to daughter, while religious and political affairs are the responsibility of men. This is known as Adat perpatih, a tradition that originated from the animistic and Hindu-Buddhist times of their history, before the arrival of Islam.

Cuisine

Minangkabau cuisine, also known as Padang cuisine, is popular throughout Indonesia. The most famous dish, Rendang, is a spicy meat dish.

Migration

The Minangkabau strongly value education, and this has resulted in a large diaspora of Minangkabau people, who have been successful in a variety of professions, both in Indonesia and in other countries.

See also

• Culture of Indonesia
• Ethnic groups in Indonesia
• Padang cuisine