ALAM TAKAMBANG

JADI GURU,
MUSYAWARAH, AND
MINANGKABAU
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Donard Games
MM STIE HAS
26 Januari 2019
ALAM TAKAMBANG JADI GURU
 alam takambang jadi guru (nature is the best teacher) and, in order
to follow such an idea, Minangkabau people should understand about
kato nan ampek (the four types of language).

Kato nan ampek is a Minangkabau philosophy that demands every

Minangkabau put her or himself in the right position. There are
 kato mandaki (ascending words used to address older people),
 kato manurun (descending words used when facing younger people),
 kato mandata (levelling words used when talking to the same age-
group) and
 kato malereng (indirect words used when talking to respectful
people).
This ability is regarded as inherent in the Minangkabau way of
interacting with other people.
More specifically, for migrant interviewees, this helped their cultural
adaptation in rantau.
MUSYAWARAH
 The essence of adat can also be found from this saying:
Kamanakan barajo ka mamak;
 Mamak barajo ka panghulu; Panghulu barajo ka mufakat;
Mufakat barajo ka alua;
Alua barajo ka patuik dan mungkin;
Patuik dan mungkin barajo ka bana Bana itulah nan manjadi
rajo.

Translation is based on Benda-Beckmann (1981, p.121). The

kamanakan (nephews, children of mamak’ sisters) are subject to
mamak (mother’s brother). The mamak is subject to panghulu
(clan leaders); Panghulu is subject to mufakat (consensus). The
mufakat is subject to power of reasoning. The power of
reasoning is subject to what is possible and appropriate. It is
truth which is the highest authority (which becomes king).
 Every decision related to the public interest is
discussed together in order to find mufakat
(agreement). One of the essential elements of adat
is the philosophy of
 Duduak surang basampik-sampik (living exclusively
makes life difficult),
Duduak basamo balapang-lapang (to gather
together makes everything easy).
Musra Dahrizal, a Minangkabau cultural expert,
affirmed that Minangkabau collectivism is based on
egalitarianism and consensus in order to pursue
truth and common good (Ranah Berita 3 April
2014).
 As collectivism and familism are fundamental to the
structure of nagari, it is not surprising that
Minangkabau migrants remain strongly connected with
their nagari (Mansoer et al. 1970).
 Nagari are also expected to implement Islamic values
and traditions such as community sharing and sharia
economics (Naim 2013). In other words, the nagari are
expected to be the manifestation of Minangkabau
values. While this is an advantage for West Sumatrans
because they may help their own nagari, there have
been concerns expressed that Minangkabau migrants
remain strongly connected to their own nagari and
neglect the rest of the Minangkabau (Mansoer et
al.1970
HORIZONTAL ORGANISATIONAL
STRUCTURE
 Two types of Organisational Structure
1. Vertical OS
2. Horizontal OS
Minangkabau tends to apply Horizontal OS
as preserve Musyawarah and egalitarianism