Minangkabau, the world's largest matrilineal society

[Jiwa_Matahari]

Minangkabau, the world's largest matrilineal society

Welcome to the land of "girl power"

Girl Power!
Minangkabau people from West Sumatra - Indonesia is the world's largest matrilineal society; with properties, lands, and clan names are passed down from mothers to daughters.


The traditional house "Rumah Gadang" or Rumah Bagonjong", passed down from mothers to daughters

[Jiwa_Matahari]

Water Buffalo Obsession


The traditional "Rumah Gadang" or "Rumah Bagonjong" serves as a residence, a hall for family meetings, and for ceremonial activities. With the Minangkabau society being matrilineal, the rumah gadang is owned by the women of the family who live there - ownership is passed from mothers to daughters.

The houses have dramatic curved roof structure with multi-tiered, upswept gables. They are shaped to represent the horns of water buffalo. Minangkabau women also wear a typical headdress that looks like water buffalo's horn. Why water buffalo, you ask? Because water buffaloes have qualities of an ideal Minangkabau woman: they are caring, gentle and supportive to their family, providing emotional needs for them but if push comes to shove, they can be fierce, competitive, determined and independent.


Minangkabau women usually wear "golden horn" headdress as a symbol of their ownership to the house and property

[Jiwa_Matahari]

The Minangkabau Diaspora
As the Minangkabau’s are generally a matrilineal society, you’re probably wondering what happen to the male ones? Well, as males don’t have any rights on the properties and beneficiaries, most male Minangkabau’s end up wandering to many parts of the Indonesian archipelago, becoming scholars or merchants. This is encouraged at an early age as a source of wisdom so that they can run the family unit or government well. Aside from their homeland in West Sumatra - Indonesia, you can also find Minangkabau people in the neighboring countries. In Malaysia, one of the states ( Negeri Sembilan) are populated by people of Minangkabau descent where their ancestors had followed Raja Melewar who migrated to Negeri Sembilan from West Sumatra.


Foreigners in Minangkabau ceremonial dress

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Spiced up to the Max

Hot and tasty "Dendeng Balado"

Hot and spicy food are characteristics of Minangkabau food, and the most commonly used herbs and spices are chili, turmeric, ginger and galangal. Minangkabau food is also famous in neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam.


"Rendang"; The hotter, the better!

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Brides' Affair

In a traditional Minangkabau wedding, it is the bride who would come to the groom's house and take him back to her house. It is also the bride who pays for the dowry.

Their traditional wedding outfit is very beautiful, here are some pics to give you a glimpse of their festive weddings:

[supermik]

Hot and spicy food are characteristics of Minangkabau food, and the most commonly used herbs and spices are chili, turmeric, ginger and galangal. Minangkabau food is also famous in neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam.


"Rendang"; The hotter, the better![/quote]


Yum yum!! Rendang is my favorite! Now Jiwa you make me crave for that! In Malaysia the best rendang comes from the state of Johor, Perak but the spiciest is from Negri Sembilan, the Minang rendang is just crrrraaaaazy!! Ahhh man.... SODAP!

[datu]