Traditional houses

Traditionally, the Palembang indigenous traditional houses are having its own characteristics and symbolism that portrayed in architectural form. Each traditional house has its own historical and influences meaning.

Two indigenous Palembang dancers performed in front of the colonial resident office of Palembang in c. 1900s (nowadays transformed as Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Museum), this building is inspired by one of the traditional Palembang houses called Cagho Godang.

• Baghi house

The Baghi house in Palembang archaeological site

Baghi house is one of the traditional Palembang houses that been well-preserved since ancient times, heavily influenced by the tribal Musi architecture. Baghi house can't be separated with the Palembang history, it is considered as one of the prominent native (Musi) architectural in terms of traditional house.

The architectural aspect of Baghi house is depicted on the coat of arms of South Sumatra to represent Palembang as the capital city of South Sumatra and to symbolize the harmony and safety of Palembang city and South Sumatra province in general that been genuinely preserved since ancient times. In 2021, the Baghi house are officially recognized as the Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.^[10]

• Cagho Godang house

The 'Cagho Godang house used as the huis of the Resident during the Dutch colonialism era (the jubileum of Queen Wilhelmina event) in Palembang.

Etymologically, the Cagho Godang might refers to the warehouse due to its elongated building shape that looks like warehouse, but probably also might derived from Minangkabau: Gadang, which literally means 'huge' or 'big'. But however, Cagho Godang house of Palembang are different than the well-known Minangkabau's Gadang house.

The shape of this house is like a stage and elongated with a pole as high as 2m. The main material for building this traditional house is wood. The wood used comes from tembesu, unglen, and petanang types of wood. These woods are used because apart from being strong, they are also sturdy. The Cagho Godang traditional house is divided into 3 parts, namely the back part, the middle part, and the front part. The back has a room that functions as an indoor room, kitchen, or bedroom. The middle part has a room that functions as a room for honorable or elderly guests. Meanwhile, the front has a room that is functioned as a place to rest, gather, or be used as a place to hold a feast.

In 2010, the Cagho Godang which is the traditional Palembang type of house are officially recognized as the Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.^[11]

• Limas house

Rumah limas of IDR 10000 banknote is now located in Museum Balaputradewa, Palembang

The Limas house are associated with the nobility and other people of high status by the Palembang people.^[12] In 2010, the Limas house (Indonesian: Rumah Limas) are officially recognized as the Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.^[13]

• Rakit house

The Rakit house in Palembang region of South Sumatra, c. 1850s

The Musi river is one of the veins of South Sumatra, according to the Dutch historical account, in early 19th century, Palembang are also known as 'the Venice of the East' or 'the water city' because more than 100 rivers and its tributary are flowing through the Palembang city. For the Palembang, the existence of rivers serves as a source of food, livelihood, and especially clean water sources. In architecture that has a 'built environment' concept, buildings are always influenced by its environmental conditions. In other words, natural conditions will directly affect human behavior, including in designing the architectural form of the house.

Rakit house alongside the Musi river in Palembang

The Rakit house is the oldest form of traditional house in Palembang, and may have existed way before the existence of the famous Srivijaya empire. The Rakit house is also a hallmark of the community living on the river as the first floating residential dwelling that also known to the Komering community. In 2010, these type of traditional Palembang house are officially recognized as the Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.^[14]

Traditional clothes

Aesan Gede is one of the types of Aesan, which is the traditional Palembang ethnic costume

• Aesan

The native Palembang couple wearing the Aesan traditional costume, c. 1850s-1900s

The Aesan is the traditional native Palembang cultural clothing. Aesan has several types, mainly the Aesan Gede and Aesan Paksangko a.k.a. Aesan Pasangkong. Back in ancient times, Aesan were only worn by the aristocrats or wong jegho (lit. 'royal people') of Palembang, but nowadays the common Palembang community (wong jabo) could also wear these traditional costume as the cultural symbol of Palembang ethnic. It is also usually worn during the cultural Palembang ethnic events, including the traditional Palembang wedding ceremonies. In 2021, these traditional Palembang costume are officially recognized as the Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.^[15]

Traditional dances

• Gadis Palembang

The performance of traditional Gadis Palembang dance performed by the indigenous Palembang girls in Palembang, c. 1860s

Gadis Palembang is the traditional dance of Palembang people usually performed by the female teenagers.

• Gending Sriwijaya

The Gending Sriwijaya dance depicted on the 1993 Indonesian stamp

Gending Sriwijaya generally refers to the traditional Javanese-influenced Palembang performance whether it is a song, musical form, as well as the dance performance. Historically, Palembang was the center of Srivijaya empire (Palembang: Kadatuan Sriwijaya), the Gending Sriwijaya dance performance particularly created by the Palembang people to describes the splendor, cultural refinement, glory, and the grandeur of Srivijaya empire that once succeed on dominated much of western maritime Southeast Asia hemisphere region. In 2010, the Gending Sriwijaya are officially recognized as the Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.^[16]

• Pagar Pengantin

The Pagar Pengantin dance usually performed in traditional Palembang wedding ceremony

Pagar Pengantin is the traditional Palembang dance usually performed by the female dancers in the traditional cultural Palembang wedding ceremony, this dance is believed by the natives could bring the good luck or good fortune for the newly married couple. It is one of the most common traditional Palembang dances performed in Palembang wedding.

Nobility

The gilded copper crown of Palembang displayed at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco in California, the item might be stolen or taken away from Palembang in c. 1880-1930 C.E.

According to its prominent role, the Palembang people are categorized into two main sociogrouping, the first one is the wong jegho (lit. 'aristocrats'), and the other one is wong jabo (lit. 'commoners'). The noble titles of Palembang are heavily influenced by the Javanese nobility system due to the Javanese royals relationship with the Palembang royals.

Ancient figures

• Sang Nila Utama, the founder of ancient Singapore (Kingdom of Singapura).
• Sang Sapurba, the legendary ancestor of all Melayu dynasties.

Entertainment industry

• Titi Kamal, a female Indonesian actress and model.

Pageantry

• Maria Selena, a female Indonesian actress, Puteri Indonesia 2011 (lit. 'Miss Universe Indonesia 2011'), and Top 22 of Miss Universe 2012.

Politics

• Taufiq Kiemas, a male Indonesian politician.

Sports

• Mohammad Ahsan, a male Indonesian badminton player who specializes in the men's doubles, ranked Top 6 in the BWF World Rankings.