Minangkabau people (
Minangkabau:
Urang Minang;
Indonesian:
Suku Minang;
Jawi:
مينڠكاباو), also known as
Minang, is an ethnic group indigenous to the
Minangkabau Highlands of
West Sumatra,
Indonesia. Their culture is both
matrilineal and
patriarchal, with property and land passing down from mother to daughter, while religious and political affairs are the responsibility of men, although some women also play important roles in these areas. This custom is called Lareh Bodi Caniago and is known as
Adat perpatih in Malaysia. Today 4,5 million Minangs live in the homeland of West Sumatra, while about 4,5 million more are scattered throughout many Indonesian and
Malay peninsular cities and towns.