Who are the Minangkabau?
The Minangkabau (Minang) people originate from the province of West Sumatera. These people are famous for their tradition of merantau (going to distant areas to seek success). Many of them have moved to other islands in Indonesia. They are the fourth largest ethnic group in Indonesia and exercise significant influence in the country.

What are their lives like?
The name "Minangkabau" reflects their clever intellect. Minangkabau literally means "victorious water buffalo". According to legend, an army from Jawa long ago invaded West Sumatera. Realizing they were outnumbered, the local leaders challenged the invaders to a contest between water buffaloes. The local leaders chose a small calf and then starved it. When the calf mistakenly sought to nurse from the huge Jawa bull, a knife attached to the calf's snout sliced the bull open. From that time on, the water buffalo has endured as a symbol of the Minangkabau and is still evident in their ethnic myths, culture, and architecture. The roofs of traditional Minang homes and buildings are shaped in the form of buffalo horns.In the past, the Minangkabau homeland consisted of many small villages (nagari) run by a village chief (penghulu) and a council of leaders. Each village managed its own affairs with minimal interference from the Minangkabau kings and nobles. The Minangkabau are very proud of their culture and traditions. In their culture, the family name and inheritance is passed down from mother to daughter (matrilineal). Historically, in the home, primary responsibility has been in the hands of the uncle (mother's brother) called the ninik mamak. He must take care of his nieces and nephews as well as supervise everything that relates to family inheritance. However, today the role of the uncle is decreasing because more and more Minangkabau families are following the more universal pattern of the father leading the household. This change is most clearly seen among Minangkabau families who are living outside the province. Other than the restaurant business, the Minangkabau are also famous for their skill in retail business. They often sell clothes and jewelry.

What do they believe?
Most Minangkabau are committed Muslims. In fact, they have a proverb that states, "To Be Minangkabau is to be Muslim." If a Minangkabau converts to another religion, he will be thrown out of his family and community as well as lose his job. In the 1800s, the Dutch took advantage of a conflict between the Minangkabau cultural guardians and Muslim leaders and intervened to gain control of the area. Islam was used as a rallying point in the struggle against the Dutch and resulted in Islam being incorporated into Minangkabau traditions.

What are their needs?
In education and business, the Minangkabau have been relatively successful in comparison to other Indonesian people groups. However, they still need to improve education and industry in their home province of West Sumatera. Home industries such as weaving, sewing, and knitting especially have potential. In addition, the Mentawai Islands, Lake Maninjau, Lake Singkarak, and the area of Bukittinggi all have significant underdeveloped tourist potential.