Why do Minangkabau roofs look like horns?
Although 'being a symbol of plenty' is not the reason for horns being so prominent in Minangkabau culture, land ownership patterns and family structures are intended to ensure adequate provision for all Minangkabau. There is an interesting proverb that talks about the irony of a hen laying eggs on the edge of the rice field yet starving. One interpretation of this is that anyone with ancestral land should never go hungry. Most Minangkabau have ancestral land somewhere in the province meaning that if they fail to make a living in the city they should technically be able to swallow their pride and return to it.
So why are horns so significant in Minangkabau culture?