Awaiting Return of \'Mother’s House\'

Kompas/Iwan Setiyawan

A house with bagonjong roofing in the Seribu Rumah Gadang area of Muaralabuh, South Solok regency, West Sumatra, features in this photo taken on Friday (26/1). There are still many houses with this characteristic element of Minangkabau architecture in the area.

Rumah Gadang is the house of mothers, a symbol of the Minangkabau’s matriarchal tradition. The property is of equal value with a rice field, farmland and land prohibited from sale. However, the existence of the rumah gadang is under threat.

Muchlis Sutan Mangkuto, 65, slowly climbed the stairs to the attic of Rumah Gadang Siti Fatimah in Nagari Sumpur, South Batipuh district, Tanah Datar regency, West Sumatra. At the traditional Minangkabau house, he carefully walked along a small wooden bridge to reach the southern end of the attic.