Seasians, have you ever wondered why the origins of rendang often spark debates?
The widespread presence of the Minangkabau people across Southeast Asia is one of the reasons.
Minangkabau itself comes from minang, meaning “victory,” and kabau, meaning “buffalo.” This name is closely tied to the tribe’s origin story, which is from West Sumatra Province, Indonesia.
The Origins of the Minangkabau People in Southeast Asia
To know more about the origins of the Minangkabau tribe, Seasians can trace back the tambo or chronicles and recorded folktales.
“Dari mano titiak palito
Dari tangluang nan barapi
Dari mano asa nenek moyang kito
Dari puncak Gunung Marapi”
(Tun Sri Lanang, 1621, Yamin, 1951, Sejarah Melayu)
Based on this mamang adat (traditional saying), it’s believed that the Minangkabau people originally came from the peak of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra.
Meanwhile, in the Tambo Alam, there are also clues that the ancestors of the Minangkabau came from Tanah Basa (South India) by sea.
However, historians have concluded and agreed that the ancestors of the Minangkabau were groups of people who had long settled around Mount Marapi (the Bukit Barisan range).
They were a mix of Proto-Malay and Deutero-Malay ethnic groups who practiced matrilineal customs.
These two ethnicities are part of the Austronesian family, believed to have entered from the eastern coast of Sumatra, traveling along the Kampar River to the highlands.
The tradition of merantau (migrating) among the Minang people is also one of the main reasons they’re spread across Southeast Asia.
The Matrilineal System and the Merantau Culture of the Minangkabau People
The Minang people believe that lineage is passed down through the women.
This system is known as the Minangkabau matrilineal system. In this custom, the mother and her maternal uncle (mamak) hold power and responsibility in the household.
This custom doesn’t restrict women from participating in political decision-making or holding public office.
Historically, there was even a Minangkabau kingdom led by a woman ruler named Bundo Kanduang.
Women are traditionally not allowed to hold only three roles: Manti (traditional leader), Malin (religious leader), and Dubalang (security chief).
Interestingly, Islamic teachings are strongly upheld alongside this matrilineal system.
Their philosophy is “Adat Basandi Syarak, Syarak Basandi Kitabullah,” which means tradition is based on Islamic law, and Islamic law is based on the Quran.
The matrilineal system also states that women inherit wealth, such as land, the traditional Rumah Gadang, and family names.
But does that mean men get nothing from the inheritance? The answer is yes!
Men usually don’t inherit pusaka tinggi (ancestral property), but they still have the right to manage and use it.
That’s why men need to seek their livelihood by merantau.
This merantau culture, which has been practiced since the ancestors’ time, is also seen as a process of self-growth and knowledge-seeking.
The Spread of Minangkabau People in Southeast Asia
The Minangkabau are one of the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia, with a population of over 6.4 million people or about 2.73% of the total Indonesian population.
In addition to West Sumatra, Minang communities can be found in Riau, Jambi, Bengkulu, North Sumatra, and Aceh.
Then there’s Malaysia, especially in Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Malacca, Penang, Kedah, Perak, and Pahang, where Minang people have been migrating since the 14th century.
In Malaysia, Minangkabau people are considered part of the Malay community and are granted special rights under the Malaysian constitution.
Minangkabau figures also played key roles in the early history of Singapore.
The Singapore Minangkabau Association is a community that keeps the strong historical ties of the Minang people alive in Singapore.
Thanks to their unique traditions and culture, the Minangkabau people have contributed to cultural exchange and economic development across Southeast Asia.
Is there also a chance for Minangkabau women to become great leaders in Southeast Asia?
References:
BPAKHM UNP. (n.d.). Sejarah Minangkabau di Negeri Sembilan. http://bpakhm.unp.ac.id/sejarah-minangkabau-di-negeri-sembilan/
Neliti. (n.d.). [PDF] Kajian Sejarah dan Budaya Minangkabau. https://media.neliti.com/media/publications/78825-ID-none.pdf
Liputan6. (n.d.). Minang adalah suku yang berasal dari Sumatera Barat, punya budaya unik dan kaya tradisi. https://www.liputan6.com/feeds/read/5783965/minang-adalah-suku-yang-berasal-dari-sumatera-barat-punya-budaya-unik-dan-kaya-tradisi?page=5
Universitas Andalas. (2015). Sejarah Situs-Situs Budaya Minangkabau di Jorong Batur. http://repo.unand.ac.id/4763/4/0%2005%2006%202015%20Isi%20Buku%20Kecil%20Sejarah%20Situs2%20Budaya%20%20%20Minangkabau%20di%20Jorong%20Batur.pdf
New World Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Minangkabau. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Minangkabau
Kumparan. (n.d.). Asal-usul orang Minangkabau: Campuran bangsa Melayu tua dan muda. https://kumparan.com/sejarah-dan-sosial/asal-usul-orang-minangkabau-campuran-bangsa-melayu-tua-dan-muda-23ZD3pCqfDy
Detik.com. (2021). Asal-usul suku Minang yang terkenal dengan budaya rantau. https://www.detik.com/edu/detikpedia/d-5823909/asal-usul-suku-minang-yang-terkenal-dengan-budaya-rantau
