Merantau : aspects of outmigration of the Minangkabau people

Abstract

Merantau is a unique form of migration found in the Minangkabau society. In this thesis merantau is studied by a Minangkabau scholar. Thus, merantau is analysed not only by conventional means using observed data but also by the scholar's personal observation. Minangkabau society has a matrilineal kinship system, which is quite different from the more well known patrilineal system. This study has discussed the matrilineal system and found that the effect of this system is often to compel men in disadvantaged kinship positions 'in their homeland to merantau. In addition the successful adaptation of Minangkabau people to life in other areas encouraged the young Minangkabau, especially young men and young married couples to migrate to other areas where their sisters and matrilaterally related female cousins were settled. Facts and figures of merantau produced from the 1971 population census of Indonesia and other sources are discussed in this study in detail. These results are primarily descriptive and the intention is to provide a basis for further studies into the sociology of migration in Indonesia. The study demonstrates that merantau is a socially and culturally institutionalised pattern of migration in Minangkabau society.