The Minangkabau settlers brought with them the "Adat Perpatih", a cultural and social system, which permeated their daily life, economy and mode of government. One of the main characteristics of the 'adat' or way of life, was that of the matrilineal society. By this, land was owned by wives and passed to their daughters. A man dealt with land subject strictly to his duty to his wife and her kin. Therefore, in this system, heritage, titles and family name are handed down to the following generations through the females in the family. The traditions and customs still runs deep in the veins of the community. The Minangkabau society in Sumatra has continued to retain the custom where the man takes upon his wife's family name on the consummation of their marriage.
In the Minangkabau community, men are responsible for the welfare and heirlooms in the family but women have full rights to the family possessions. However, this does not in any way signify inequality in gender rights. The Adat Perpatih teaches a democratic system of conduct and thoughts. Both men and women are consulted during occasions to overcome obstacles and to provide solutions. The difference is that women are the heiresses of the family and they have rights to live in the family house or Rumah Gadang. The men, on the other hand are strongly urged to leave their mother's house at an early age as it is not proper to stay on. It is long thought that one reason for 'merantau' or the early migration of Minangkabau men was attributed to this custom. Young men would leave their village to far off lands seeking fame and fortune but still maintain a strong attachment to their village through monetary contributions.
This economic shift has displaced farming as the main source of livelihood in some villages. It is also believed that traditional migration of young Minangkabau men was very much influenced by the need to gain status in 'an egalitarian society', a society where everyone is equal. However, as the matrilineal system is strongly rooted in an agrarian society, there is a great possibility that soon the customs and traditions of the Minangkabau will disappear as more and more men and women opt for employment in the cities and towns nearby. Many of the padi fields have been left abandoned and their importance in the matrilineal system of inheritance has become only of mere symbolic reasons. As men find work elsewhere, they are no longer dependent on their wives; and in their own homes, they can assert more authority than before. Some Muslims have preferred to relinquish their practice of certain aspects of Adat Perpatih which contradict with the Islamic law. Change is inevitable, but let's hope that even if change is for the better, there should always be space for the customs and traditions of the community to thrive and retain for their generations to come.
The Adat Perpatih is rich in culture and tradition, which is reflected in its music, dance and games such as Cak Limpong, Tumbuk Kalang and Dikir Rebana. These have survived the generations and are at the core of the peoples' lifestyles especially those in villages and agricultural regions.