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 2: Youth, Activism and Bahasa Jaksel with Yacinta Kurniasih
Youth plays an important role in celebrating and maintaining the use of Indonesian abroad but also continues to shape the way we speak and understand each other. Indonesian academic Yacinta Kurniasih joins Billy to talk about how she continues to teach Indonesian and Javanese at Monash University,…
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Episode 1: Stay News-savvy with Hirzi Putra Laksana and What Is Up, Indonesia?
What Is Up, Indonesia? Editor-in-Chief, Hirzi Putra Laksana, talks about WIUI’s role in encouraging young Indonesians to engage more with politics, especially from abroad, and how digital media has paved the way for media democratisation.
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