Rawa (tribe)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2009) |
| |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| unknown | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Selangor, Kelantan | |
| Languages | |
| Rawa, Standard Malay (Perak Malay dialect) | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Minangkabau, Malays |
The Rawa people, also known as Rao or Rau in the Minangkabau language,[1] (Malay: Melayu Rawa) are an ethnic group originating in Rao, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Many Rawas migrated to the Malay Peninsula during the 19th century,[2] where it is now common for the Rawa to identify themselves as Ughang Rawo or Ughang Rao or even Rao.[citation needed]
History
[edit]The Rawa people originated in Rao[3] in the area of West Sumatra now known as Pasaman,[4] west of Lake Toba and just north of the Minangkabau culture.[5] A. C. Milner also notes a second group of Rawas in Jambi and Palembang, referring to this people as the 'Orang Rawa' and the West Sumatra people as the 'Orang Rau'.[5]
It is uncertain whether the Rawas belong to the larger Minangkabau ethnic group. Fathil et al. note controversy but assert that most scholars believe the Rawas are part of the Minangkabau.[6] A 1982 analysis by C. W. Watson tentatively identified the Rawa who settled the Peninsula in the 19th century as an admixture of Kerinci settlers originally from Rawang and the indigenous people of the upper Rokan River.[7]
Many Rawas migrated to the Malay Peninsula during the 19th century to escape persecution after the Padri War.[8]
Population
[edit]The population spread around Perak, several parts in Penang, Selangor and Pahang. Gopeng, a small town in Perak is a well-known town for its Rawa community who is still preserving most of its tradition and dialect for centuries, way before the formation of Malaysia.
Language
[edit]| Rawa Minangkabau | |
|---|---|
| Baso Rao | |
| Native to | Indonesia |
| Region | West Sumatra
|
Austronesian
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
| Glottolog | None |
Among the most notable suffixes used by the Rawa is kuak, sang, tang.
Rawa cuisine
[edit]Kelamai, Gulai Nangko and Asom Iken Koli have become the signature cuisine of the Rawa community in which they mastered every inch of its details and procedures. Many tourists who joined the Gopeng Homestay Program in Gopeng will experiene this cuisine. Kelamai or Kelamei is a sweet dark brown delicacy similar to Lemang. It is cooked for hours inside a specifically chosen bamboo under very tedious supervision. Not to mention the complicated pre cook procedures of preparing the down.
Tradition
[edit]Adet Berjojak (Malay: Adat Berjejak) is a traditional ritual usually practiced for children. There are very detail protocols and constrains to abide upon completion.[citation needed]
Many young men practice adat merantau, the tradition of leaving one's home village to gain life experience and new opportunities.[9][8]
External links
[edit]- Susur Galor Melayu Rao[permanent dead link]
- Seminar Melayu Rao UPSI 25 July 2009
- JARO (Jalinan Anak Rao)
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ Milner 1978, p. 146.
- ^ Fathil 2018, p. 38.
- ^ Abdullah 2021, p. 263.
- ^ Fathil 2018, p. 28.
- ^ a b Milner 1978, p. 145.
- ^ Fathil 2018, p. 33.
- ^ Watson 1982, p. 84–85.
- ^ a b Fathil 2018, p. 39.
- ^ Abdullah 2021, p. 266.
Works cited
[edit]- Abdullah, Suhaila; Fathil, Fauziah (2021). "Revisiting the History of Early Settlements in Pulau Pinang: The Contributions and Legacies of Rawa People". Intellectual Discourse. 29 (2): 262–278. doi:10.31436/id.v29i2.1606. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- Milner, A. C. (1978). "A Note on 'The Rawa'". Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 51 (2). Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society: 143–148. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- Fathil, Fauziah; Wan Sulong, Wan Suhana; Abdul Manaf, Nor Faridah (2018). "Rawa Migration to the Malay Peninsula in the 19th Century: The Case of Pahang, Perak, and Selangor". Al-Shajarah: Journal of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation. 27 (50): 27–49. doi:10.31436/shajarah.v0i0.736. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
- Watson, C. W. (1982). "Rawa and Rinchi: A Further Note". Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 55 (1). Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society: 82–86. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
