Rawa or Rao is a group of
Minangkabau people
Minangkabau people ( min, Urang Minang; Indonesian or Malay: ''Orang Minangkabau'' or ''Minangkabo''; Jawi: منڠكبو), also known as Minang, are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the Minangkabau Highlands of West Sumatra, Indonesi ...
who come from Rao,
West Sumatra
West Sumatra ( id, Sumatra Barat) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia. It is located on the west coast of the island of Sumatra and includes the Mentawai Islands off that coast. The province has an area of , with a population of 5, ...
. In the
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula (Malay: ''Semenanjung Tanah Melayu'') is a peninsula in Mainland Southeast Asia. The landmass runs approximately north–south, and at its terminus, it is the southernmost point of the Asian continental mainland. The area ...
, now the West Malaysia, it is common for the Rawa to identify themselves as ''Ughang Rawo'' or ''Ughang Rao'' or even Rao.
History
The Rawa or Rao people came to
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
from Rao and Mapat Tunggul villages, in
Pasaman
Pasaman Regency is a regency ''(kabupaten)'' of West Sumatra, Indonesia. It has an area of and had a population of 252,981 at the 2010 Census and 299,851 at the 2020 Census. The regency seat is the town of Lubuk Sikaping.
Pasaman is located in ...
,
West Sumatera
West Sumatra ( id, Sumatra Barat) is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the west coast of the island of Sumatra and includes the Mentawai Islands off that coast. The province has an area of , with a population of 5,534,472 at the 2020 ce ...
,
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
in 1773 to 1848 to
Negeri Sembilan
Negeri Sembilan (, Negeri Sembilan Malay: ''Nogoghi Sombilan'', ''Nismilan'') is a state in Malaysia which lies on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It borders Selangor on the north, Pahang in the east, and Malacca and Johor to the s ...
, in 1857 to 1863 to
Pahang
Pahang (;Jawi alphabet, Jawi: , Pahang Hulu Malay: ''Paha'', Pahang Hilir Malay: ''Pahaeng'', Ulu Tembeling Malay: ''Pahaq)'' officially Pahang Darul Makmur with the Arabic honorific ''Darul Makmur'' (Jawi: , "The Abode of Tranquility") is a ...
, in 1867 to 1873 to
Selangor
Selangor (; ), also known by its Arabic language, Arabic honorific Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity", is one of the 13 Malaysian states. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east ...
, in 1875 to 1876 to
Perak
Perak () is a state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, and Selangor to the south. Thailand's ...
and some in
Kelantan
Kelantan (; Jawi: ; Kelantanese Malay: ''Klate'') is a state in Malaysia. The capital is Kota Bharu and royal seat is Kubang Kerian. The honorific name of the state is ''Darul Naim'' (Jawi: ; "The Blissful Abode").
Kelantan is located in the ...
.
Population
The population spread around
Perak
Perak () is a state of Malaysia on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. Perak has land borders with the Malaysian states of Kedah to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, and Selangor to the south. Thailand's ...
, several parts in Penang, Selangor and Pahang.
Gopeng
Gopeng is a town located in Mukim Teja, Kampar District, Perak, Malaysia. It is situated approximately south of Ipoh, the state capital.
History
Gopeng was the most important town in the Kinta Valley until 1890, when Ipoh became more prominen ...
, 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
Among the most notable suffixes used by the Rawa is kuak, sang, tang. For instance:
* Bak mano tang means "''how could that be''"
* Ompek ringgit sang means "''four ringgit only''"
* Nyonyo nak bergolek kuak means "''maybe he wants to sleep''"
* Oma citen ku means "''my butt are hurt''"
Other significant phrases such as:
* Bak siko cipier to means "''give me the plate''"
* Ondeik! Gudang utak bak nyonyo means "''owh! stubborn just like him''"
* Beserendeng tukong means "''carrying things excessively/overloaded''"
* Banyak uta kareknyo means "''he's mischievous/cunning''"
* Lotowk dongen kayu to means "''Hit it with the stick''"
* Ako ngincah/kincah kain isowk means "''i'll rinse the clothes tomorrow''"
* Bak kato jako...means "''like i just said''"
* Aghri Senoyen means "''Monday''"
* Pukol ompek karang nyo means "''its at 4 o'clock''"
* Kao idak poie menjongouwk means "''will you be going for the funeral?''"
* Abeih berkerotang sado alahnyo means "''everything is a complete mess''" (when the mouth gets messy with foods while eating)
* Hopak! bergayo tang kawo genaghain/genarin means "''Wow! you looks stylish nowadays''"
* Sempureh kawo! means "''to hell with you!''" (offensive)
* Ku sipak kang means "''i'll kick you''" (offensive)
* Abeih tekelayak means "''it tears apart''" (specifically for open wound)
* Indo ku podah! means "''I don't want to!''"
Rawa Cuisine
The 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 tourist who joined the Gopeng Homestay Program in Gopeng will experiencing these wonderful cuisine. The Kelamai or pronounce as Kelamei is a sweet dark brown delicacy similar to the 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
''Adet Berjojak'' or ''Adaik Bajajak'' (in Standard Minangkabau) is a traditional ritual usually practiced for children. There are very detail protocols and constrains to abide upon completion.
External links
Susur Galor Melayu RaoSeminar Melayu Rao UPSI 25 July 2009JARO (Jalinan Anak Rao)
{{Authority control
Malaysian people of Malay descent
Malay people
Minangkabau
Ethnic groups in Malaysia
Languages of Malaysia