Iqela lobuhlanga IMinangkabau yindalo kumhlaba osentshona iSumatra, kwi Indoneshiya. Inkcubeko yakho emtshatweniOko kukuthi, idlula isuka kumama iye entombini, ngelixa ezenkolo nezothando zezamadoda (ngaphandle kwento yokuba abanye abantu basetyhini badlala indima ebalulekileyo kwezi ndawo). Namhlanje, i-4 yezigidi IMinang uhlala eNtshona Sumatra, ngelixa malunga nezigidi ezi-3 ezingaphezulu zisasazwa kwizixeko needolophu ezahlukeneyo eIndonesia nase Usingasiqithi waseMalay.
Los IMinangkabau ngamaSilamsi ngamandla, kodwa balandela namasiko obuhlanga. Inkqubo ye- IMinangkabauadat Yayivela kwiinkolelo zobukho ngaphambi kokuba i-Islam ifike, kwaye imizila yeenkolelo ze-animistic isabonakala kwabanye abantu. Ubudlelwane obukhoyo phakathi kwe-Islam kunye ne-adat buchazwa kwilizwi elithi "Isiko lasungula umthetho wamaSilamsi."
Igama elithi Minangkabau kwakucingelwa ukuba yimanyano yamagama amabini: minang (uloyiso) kunye ne-kabau (inyathi). Kukho intsomi yokuba igama livela kwimpikiswano yendawo phakathi kweMinangkabau kunye nenkosana engummelwane. Ukuthintela idabi, abantu bendawo bacebisa umlo wokufa phakathi kweenyathi ezimbini, ukuphelisa imbambano. Inkosana ivumile yavelisa eyona nyathi inkulu, imbi kakhulu kwaye inomsindo. IMinangkabau yavelisa inyathi elambileyo yosana, ineempondo zayo ezibukhali njengeemela. Ukubona inyathi endala kwelinye icala, usana lwabaleka ngethemba lokufumana ubisi. Inyathi enkulu ayibonanga sisoyikiso emntwaneni kwaye ayikhange ihoye, njengoko yayijonga-jonga kumchasi. Xa usana lwangxama ukubeka intloko yakhe esiswini senyathi endala, iimpondo ezibukhali zazizifaka zaza zambulala, uMinangkabau ephumelele ukhuphiswano kunye nembambano.
Umgca wophahla lwezindlu zemveli zaseSumatra, ezibizwa ngokuba URuma Madang, iyagoba ukusuka embindini naseziphelweni, ikukulingisa amagophe aneempondo zeenyathi. Abantu bokuqala ukufika eSumatra benze njalo malunga ne-500 BC, njengenxalenye yolwandiso ukusuka ETaiwan Ngasempuma mpuma Asia. Ulwimi lwaseMinangkabau lilungu losapho lolwimi lwaseAustron, kwaye lifana kakhulu nolwimi lwaseMalay.