The Minang are -- Matrilineal

The Minangkabau are the largest group in the world to reckon descent and inherit property through women. The strength of their culture is demonstrated not only in the fact that they have remained matrilineal while simultaneously embracing Islam, but that, in at least two instances, when converting other people groups to Islam, they converted them to matriliny as well.

A person belongs to his mother's clan or matrikin and not to his father’s clan. Traditionally, a man's family role was primarily directed towards his mother and his sisters and their children, and his role as a husband and father was marginal.

At this point contemporary and tradition practice sharply contrast. Will the man become the traditional 'visiting husband', spending most of his time at his mother's or his sister's house--working and eating there, and returning to his wife's house only at night--or will he choose to live and work in his own home in keeping with the Islamic and modern family model, assuming both the leadership role as well as economic responsibility. In both rural and urban areas, the latter model is increasingly considered preferable.