ART AND CULTURE OF MINANGKABAU

1. TRADITIONAL ARTS

1.1. DANCES
A.Tari Piring (Plate dance)

Plate Dance reflects the life of traditional Minangkabau community at the time of working in the ricefield. The dance begins with the initial work in the field and proceeds to the final process until harvested rice (paddy) is taken home. The dance also expresses happiness of the farmers as well as their thanks to the God for the very successful harvest. At the final stage of the dance is played on broken glasses by a young lady dancer, bare feet does not at all hurt. This fact should not interpreted as a magic work, as many people may think, but it religiously signals the acceptance of the dancer's pray by God.

B. Tari Payung

 Tari Payung (Umbrella Dance) describes the way of life of Minangkabau people who always protect each  other . It also  reflects this happy situation, and is accompanied with the song called 'babendi-bendi' (go by bendi) which may be sung vocally or instrumentally.

C. Welcome Dance

It is a tradition in Minangkabau to welcome honorable guests or to open a traditional event by presenting "Sirih Leaves" in a special container called a "Carano". It symbolizes a request to allow the ceremony to take place and asks a blessing form the guest as the activities begin. It is performed in a special dance called " Tari Pasambahan" or "Welcome Dance".

1.2. Traditional Music
       Dendang Saluang is one of the traditional musics / song of Minangkabau. It is  a combination of 'Saluang' (bamboo      flute) and Minangkabau classic songs. 'Saluang is usually played by male musicians, but the singer can be man or woman, sometimes accompanied with talempong ( a small kettle gong which gives its name to an ensemble of four or five talempong, produce a static texture consisting of interlocking rhythms ) . The songs are usually formulated in terms of poems or sonnets carrying special message intended to special listeners such as love message, one's economic situation, 

 

1.3. FOLK THEATER (RANDAI)
       Randai is a folk theater tradition of the Minangkabau ethnic group which incorporates music, singing, dance, drama and the silat martial art. Randai is usually performed for traditional ceremonies and festivals, and complex stories may span a number of nights. It is performed as a theatre-in-the-round to achieve an equality and unity between audience members and the performers. Randai performances are a synthesis of alternating martial arts dances, songs, and acted scenes. Stories are delivered by both the acting and the singing and are mostly based upon Minangkabau legends and folktales. Randai originated early in the 20th century out of fusion of local martial arts, story-telling and other performance traditions. Men originally played both the male and female characters in the story, but since the 1960s women have also participated. 

   

1.4. Silat (martial art / Self defense)  

        Silat  means to defend oneself or   refers to a family of martial arts native, the combative art of fighting and survival The word ‘pencak’ is more normally used in Indonesia, especially by the Javanese community. It is believed that the word pencak originates from the word panca or manca which originates from the pronouncement of the Minangkabau Malay which carries the meaning of a silat curriculum with five or seven langkah or steps (Mit, Jamal, 1986).

 1.5. Song
This is one of the songs from Minangkabau with the title " MINANGKABAU"

Minangkabau....ranah nan den cinto/
Pusako Bundo, nan dahulu nyo/
Rumah gadang, nan sambilan ruang/
Rangkiang balirik, di halaman nyo/
Bilo den kana, hati denai taibo/
Tabayang-bayang, diruang mato/

Translation:
Minangkabau....the land I loved
The land given by our descendant
Rumah gadang  with its nine room
And Rangkiang in the court yard
When I remember those, I am so missed it
It's a beautiful memories trapped in my eyes

Rumah gadang: Rumah gadang is a people of Minangkabau names for the great and unique architecture traditional house with a unique buffalo horn roof where they lives. Rangkiang: Rangkiang is a small house in front of court yard to saves the rice.

2. CULTURE    

2.1. TRADITIONAL EVENTS/ FESTIFALS   

A. TABUIK FESTIVAL

     Tabuik Festival is traditionally held every year in Pariaman during the first ten flf month. Originally, the festival symbolizes a myth of an incident that fell n: Muhammad's grandsons Hasan and Hosen. They were involved in a conflict against in Syofyan and King Yazid who wished to snatch the hereditary right of Caliph from the two brother’s family line. Then, the conflict broke into a war and Hasan and Hosen were killed in Karbela battlefield. 'Buraq' a mythical creature with beautiful lady's head was believed to have saved and brought the two brothers' souls to the heaven. In the festival-'Tabuik' or the effigies of 'Burag' which each with a carriage carried in procession, accompanied by drum beatings and dancing of supporters In the sunset, the 'Tabuik(s) are thrown into the sea as to symbolize the m 'buraq' had brought Hasan and Hosen's soul to the heaven.

 B. CLAN LEADER INAUGURATION    

 The  folk costume for clan leaders of Minangkabau, West SUmatra

C.Melewahkan Gala

Melewahkan Gala. In honour of and lift standing, the husband dubed by his uncle. For Example, Sutan Dirajo. Title become nickname and non its name. certain clan title differ from other tribe. Become clan  of Chaniago, Koto, Piliang have each title.

D.Balantuang Kaniang

Belantuang Kaniang. Event confront recently married eyebrow.  Valid as muhrim marked by wife and husband husk touch. Balantung Kaniang mean to confront the part of assumed by body is glory by easterner. Hence him there [is] expression mention Shame Smeared by in Eyebrow.

E.Manggaruak Nasi Kuniang

Fore both that pengantin is put down [by] rice turn yellow plowing under singgang intact chicken in it. Both this pengantin is led to each other taking hidden chicken flesh that. Later, then the parts of which is got each modeled to guests.

2.2. TRADITIONAL FOODS

Speaking about food, will drive us to  know more about the place where the food is processed. Therefore,  let's see the picture of traditional kitchen of Minangkabau where the food is made. Traditional kitchen of Minangkabau people
The staple ingredients of the Minangkabau diet are rice, fish, coconut, green leafy vegetables and chili. The usage of meat is mainly limited to special occasions, and beef and chicken are most commonly used.   Spiciness is a characteristic of Minangkabau food, and the most commonly used herbs and spices are chili, turmeric, ginger and galangal. Vegetables are consumed two or three times a day. Fruits are mainly seasonal, although fruits such as banana, papaya and citrus are continually available

Several traditional foods from Minangkabau

A.  RENDANG   

Rendang is one of the traditional foods from Minangkabau, West Sumatra, Indonesia. It looks  like a curry, made from beef (or occasionally chicken, ware buffalo, duck) slowly cooked in  coconut milk and spices for several hours until almost all the liquid is gone, allowing the meat to absorb the spicy condiments. The cooking process changes from boiling to frying as the liquid evaporates. The slow cooking process allows the meat to absorb all the spices and to become tender. The spices may include ginger, galangal, turmeric leaf, lemon grass and chillies. Chicken or duck rendang also contains tamarind and is usually not cooked for as long as beef rendang. So, It vey delicious and desrved to ba tasted

B. Lemang

Lemang is a traditional food, originating with the Minangkabau people of Indonesia which is cooked in a hollowed bamboo stick lined with banana leaf to prevent the rice from sticking to the bamboo. Usually prepared for festivities such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Haji, lemang is made of glutinous rice and coconut milk, with salt added for taste.

C. Samabal LAdo

Sambal Balado is Minangkabau style Sambal. red chili sauteed with oil, garlic, shallot, green tomato, salt and lemon or lime juice.