The Minangkabau culture is indeed an Asian attraction inspired by buffalo. Minangkabau is an ethnic group notably known for their multiple-layered roofs with both ends bent upwards to signify buffalo horns. Furthermore, Minangkabau women also have their headdresses made to have the shape of buffalo horns. In fact, the ethnic group is proud of their 'buffalo-horn element' as it reminds them of the wonder of wisdom in enabling them to overcome a nasty threat. The word 'Minangkabau', in the local language, means 'Victory over the Buffalo'.
Once upon a time, there was a kingdom on the island of Summatera, Indonesia. On one occasion, the Sumateran kingdom was having a conflict with another state in Java over the issue of sovereignty. The Javanese prince came to the Sumateran kingdom for negotiation but both parties became frustrated as no agreement could be reached. Finally the Javanese prince brought a big, aggressive buffalo to the Sumateran kingdom and declared that they would settle their dispute by means of bull-fighting. The party who won the bull-fighting would have the absolute right to dictate all the terms on another party. The Javanese prince emphasized that the Sumateran kingdom was given five days to prepare for the bull-fighting. If the people of the Sumateran kingdom refused to accept his proposal, war would start.
The ruler and the people of the Sumateran kingdom were extremely worried as they were sure that they would not be able to find a bull strong enough to defeat the big buffalo. The ruler gathered all his assistants to discuss and find a solution. Hours lapsed away but no progress made. Suddenly, a man came forward with a wise recommendation that delighted the ruler. The ruler ordered his people to carry out the preparation in accordance with the recommendation right away.
Quickly, the people found a young calf that was dependent on its mother's milk for its daily food. They then kept the calf away from its mother by keeping it in a cage to make it starve until the day for bull-fighting. They also fixed a few sharp, pointed knives firmly on the calf's head so that these knives became like the calf's horns. The pitiful calf groaned for its extreme hunger in the cage but the people had to harden their heart in order not to give the calf any food.
The day for bull-fighting finally came. The Sumaterans carried the starved calf to the bull-fighting site in its cage. When the Javanese prince and his followers saw the feeble calf, they mocked and laughed at the Sumaterans as they felt that the Sumaterans were funny and stupid.
To start the bull-fighting, both the Sumaterans and the Javanese released their beasts from their respective cages into the bull-fighting arena. When the hungry calf saw the buffalo, it thought the buffalo was its mother. The pitiful calf rushed desperately with all the speed it could towards buffalo as it had been longing for milk for days. Seeing the calf was running towards it, the buffalo became agitated. The buffalo immediately lowered its head and point its horns towards the calf and rushed forward. Just before the buffalo and the hungry calf was about to collide with one another, the calf stepped to the side and went under the buffalo's abdomen to look for nipples. As the calf moved its head hastily in search of nipples, the sharp knives fixed on its head injured the buffalo's abdomen. The buffalo was shocked by the intense pain of the wounds and tried to run away from the calf. Being desperate for milk and mistook the buffalo as its mother, the calf chased persistently after the buffalo. The seriously wounded buffalo kept running for a while, but very soon it collapsed and died.
The ending of the bull-fighting was a nasty shock to the Javanese prince and his followers. Seeing that the calf had killed the buffalo, the Sumaterans started to shout cheerfully, 'Minang Kabau! Minang Kabau...' It means 'Victory over the buffalo'.
Since that event, the people of that Sumateran kingdom called themselves 'Minangkabau' to remember their victory. From that time onwards, they developed the unique architectural style of roof with both ends curving upwards and the headdress with a horn-like shape to symbolize the two horns of a buffalo.
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