13 Folklore From West Sumatra

The following is a collection of Indonesian folklore, folktales, fairy tales, and legends that exist in the midst of the Minang tribal community in West Sumatra Province.

West Sumatra Province is located in the western part of the island of Sumatra, the capital city of Padang and has the motto Tuah Sakato which means the Benefit of Understanding.

Stories are collected from various sources (see references). If there is a new story, it will be added soon. I hope it will be useful.

Credit: Algenta, creativecommon, wikimedia

13. The Janiah River Magic Fish

The Janiah River Magic Fish (Jernih River) is a tourist attraction located in Agam Regency, West Sumatra. About 13 kilometers from Bukittinggi direction to Payakumbuh. In the pond there are lots of big fish. Some are even said to be the size of a buffalo. Where do these fish come from? Here is one version of the legend of the origin of the Janiah River magic fish.

12. Sutan Pangaduan

According to legend, there was a king who ruled in Kampung Dalam, Pariaman, West Sumatra today. The King has three children from different mothers namely Sutan Lembak Tuah, Sutan Pangungan and Puti Sari Makah. Mrs. Sutan Lembak Tuah comes from ordinary circles, Mrs. Sutan Pangungan named Puti Andam Dewi who is a royal lineage, while Puti Sari Makah's mother is an Arab descendant. So traditionally, Sutan Pangungan is the legitimate son of the Crown Prince because his mother, Puti Andam Dewi, is still of royal descent.

11. The Legend of the White Siamang

Is Princess Julian, a beautiful beautiful princess whose beauty spread to various countries. She is the daughter of a ship skipper named Nahkoda Baginda in Alai Village on the north coast of Tiku Beach, West Sumatra. Julian's grandfather was Tuanku Raja Kecik who ruled in the kingdom of Pagaruyung. Although beautiful, beautiful, but until now there has been no young man who dared to propose to Princess Julian.

10. Anggun Nan Tongga

Anggun Nan Tongga is a handsome young man from Kampung Dalam, Pariaman. He has a Magek Jabang degree. His mother, Ganto Sani, died shortly after giving birth to Anggun Nan Tongga while his father went out to Mount Ledang. Since childhood, he was raised by his mother's sister, Suto Suri. Anggun Nan Tongga then grew into a handsome and intelligent young man.

9. Sabai Nan Aluih

The Rajo Babanding family lives in a four-cornered house around the downstream of the Batang Agam river, Padang Tarok. Sabai Nan Aluih is the eldest daughter of the couple Rajo Babanding and Sadun Saribai. He has a handsome younger brother named M freightak Alam. Sabai Nan Aluih means soft or soft Sabai. Besides having a beautiful face, Sabai also has good manners, polite in speaking and respect for both parents.

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8. The Origin of the Lake Singkarak

According to West Sumatra folklore, Lake Singkarak was originally a sea whose water continued to shrink until it turned into a lake. Sea water is shrinking because the water flows into a large hole. The water flow is now forming into the Batang Ombilin River which flows to Riau.

7. The Origin of the Minangkabau Name

The indigenous tribe and majority population inhabiting the Province of West Sumatra are the Minangkabau. In language, Minangkabau means to win the buffalo. The origin of naming Minangkabau began in the kingdom of Pagaruyung.

6. Batu Ajuang Batu Peti

Batu Ajuang Batu Peti story is a folklore in West Sumatra. Once upon a time in the District of Pauh, Padang, West Sumatra, there was a small kingdom called the Kingdom of Bukit Perasapan, led by Raja Tuo. The kingdom of Bukit Perasapan is located at the foot of Perasapan Hill, inland Nagari Pauh Limo.

5. The Story of Bujang Paman

Bujang Paman is a folklore in the West Sumatra region. Once upon a time in the village of Koto Anau, ruled a king named Raja Aniayo. The King is known for having a bad temper. The King is also famous for gambling. Let alone the people, even to his own family King Aniayo could be cruel.

4. Mr Lebai Malang

The following is the folklore of the West Sumatra region about Pak Lebai Malang. He is a greedy man, so greedy, he just does not get whatever he wants. Once upon a time, long ago in West Sumatra, there lived a man named Pak Lebai. Pak Lebai lives in a house, located right in the middle between the upstream and downstream parts of a river.

3. The Story of Malim Deman

The Malim Deman story is a West Sumatra folklore that has a similarity to the story of Jaka Tarub from Central Java and Aryo Menak from East Java. Once upon a time, Malim Deman was an orphan young man who lived with his mother & uncle. Every day Malim Deman works to help his uncle, working his mother's rice fields on the edge of the forest.

2. The legend of Malin Kundang

Who does not know the famous folklore from the West Sumatra area, Malin Kundang? A rebellious child, ashamed to admit his mother for being poor so her mother was cursed into stone. It is said that this story took place in the Air Manis beach village, Padang Selatan District, Padang City, West Sumatra.

1. The Origin of Lake Maninjau

Lake Maninjau is a caldera formed by a composite strato volcanic eruption that developed in the tectonic zone of a large Sumatran fault system called Gunung Sitinjau. But according to the Minangkabau folklore, the origin of Lake Maninjau is closely related to the Bujang Sembilan Legend.