Perantau
NOUN, ADJECTIVE
An Indonesian term used to describe someone who has left their hometown or country to live or work in another place, usually in search of better opportunities.
We often use it with a sense of pride, considering it a journey in exploring new horizons.
Perantau culture was deeply associated with the ethnic Minangkabau people of West Sumatra, a culture that encouraged the accruement of wealth, knowledge, and life experience by going abroad.
This practice is now the spiritual backbone of contemporary overseas Indonesians and the Indonesian diaspora.
Read our breakdown on the history of the perantau, what it means for the Indonesian diaspora, and more.
Latest on The Perantau Podcast
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Episode 6: How Indonesian Diaspora Stay Connected with Monika Winarnita
The Perantau Podcast – Episode 6: How Indonesian Diaspora Stay Connected with Monika Winarnita. Music by FASSounds. Free for use under the Pixabay Content License. Graphic by Billy Adison Aditijanto. Home to the largest population of active social media users in Southeast Asia and third in Asia-Pacific,…
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Episode 5: Bridging Young Australians and Indonesians with Angus Baranikow and Australia-Indonesia Youth Association (AIYA) Victoria
The Australia-Indonesia Youth Association (AIYA) is a non-profit, youth-run organisation that bridges young Indonesians and Australians together with active chapters in every Australian state and territory, as well as Jakarta, Jawa Barat, Yogyakarta, South Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara. AIYA Victoria President Angus Baranikow joins Billy Adison…
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Episode 4: Being Perantau Muslims with Eqi Rikansa, Ahmad Alfath, and the Young Indonesian Muslim Students Association
Ramadan Mubarak! Happy fasting to all observing Muslims. In this blessed month for some, it is also a time for reflection and to look at how we view religion when we’re far away from home. Eqi and Alfath from the Young Indonesian Muslim Students Association (YIMSA) join…
What’s new?
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How Indonesian horror connects the diaspora through nostalgia and identity
Indonesian horror stories do more than just scare – they weave together folklore, cultural identity, and history, offering a window into societal issues like trauma social inequalities. For Indonesian diaspora, these tales evoke nostalgia and serve as a powerful link to their roots, growing together as Indonesians take the world stage.
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The Perantau attends the Melbourne-Bandung Emerging Leaders Roundtable Discussion
Billy Adison Aditijanto, Founder of The Perantau, highlighted the crucial need for continuous engagement with the Indonesian diaspora to enhance people-to-people connections, addressing attendees at the Melbourne-Bandung Emerging Leaders Roundtable Discussion on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. “The fact we have highly active members of the Indonesian diaspora here in the room underlines commitment from both
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Indonesia takes the top spot for Australian tourism
Indonesia has overtaken New Zealand as Australia’s top tourist destination for the first time in 50 years. ABS data shows 1.37 million trips to Indonesia as of December 2023, with 86% of travelers going for holidays, ending New Zealand’s long reign as the top choice for Australians.
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How overseas Indonesian students uphold democracy amidst media challenges
The relationship between journalism and democracy in Indonesia is complicated. At a time where media freedom might be at a free-fall, overseas Indonesian students could again be a beacon of democracy, as they have decades ago. But this time, it’ll be thanks to social media.
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Salam hangat,
Billy
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