The Mandailing people live on the west coast of Sumatra island, where they were traditionally engaged in padi-planting, buffalo-herding and gold-mining. A rich mythology surrounds their origins, but historical record is scant, dating from the 14th century. Their homeland is divided into Mandailing Godang (Lower Mandailing) and Mandailing Julu (Upper Mandailing); their respective administrative centres are Panyabungan Tonga-Tonga and Kota Nopan.

Mandailing society is organised according to Dalihan na Tolu (the confluence of three). This refers to the kinship system based on marga (clans), who are bonded together through marriage and by the principle of Olong Dohot Domu (love and companionship). Mandailing governance is fiercely democratic and egalitarian. Na Mora Na Toras (the council of nobles and elders) ensures justice and dynamic leadership. The Gordang Sambilan are the ceremonial drums that heralded war, marriages, installations and funerals. During such ceremonies, the Sabe-Sabe ceremonial shawls are worn and Tor-Tor (dance) is performed. Mandailing society, culture and economy is based on agriculture, reflected in its human-made landscape of terrace padi fields and an ingenious irrigation system.

The Mandailing Migration to Malaysia

The Mandailings have a long tradition of sojourning to the west coast of peninsular Malaysia, which they call Pai Kolang. The Padri War, 1816-1833 was both a civil war and a war against the Dutch, resulting in the devastation of the Mandailing homeland. This episode was the catalyst of a large exodus, involving the migration of entire clans led by their Namora Natoras (Nobles and Elders), to the peninsula.

The presence of this horde of Mandailing migrants in mid-19th century Malaysia triggered a series of local wars in four different negeri (states) over the next 30 years. Coming through Malacca, the Mandailing refugees first stopped to mine in Sungai Ujong (today known as Seremban, Negeri Sembilan), where they played a supporting role in the the Rawa War of 1848. Then they fled to gold mines of Pahang, where they became embroiled in the War of the Kemaman Men, 1857-1863 (also called the Pahang War). Next, they tried to capture the tin mines of Selangor, and became the commanders of the Selangor War, 1867-1873. Amidst the call to vanquish the Mandilings, they made their way to Perak and became the storm troopers of the British in the Perak War, 1875-1876 against the native Perak Malays. Many Mandailings settled down in Selangor and Perak after the wars. From miners, traders and mercenaries, they became adminstrators, educationists and foresters.

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