Toba Batak Women as Custodians of the House

As in other Southeast Asian settings, the house for the Toba Batak of North Sumatra is of central importance. The indigenous adat houses with their rich symbolism are the setting and backdrop for life-cycle ceremonies. It is the place where children are born, newly-weds enter and old people die. But it is also the place where migrant household members move in and out.