Marriages determine whether a child belongs to his mother's or father's family or clan. Their language, Rejang-lebong, originated from an Indian language. It is very old, dating back to the time when Arabic characters were first introduced in Indonesia. It is closely related to another Indonesian language called Malay. Both the men and women traditionally wear colorful skirts called sarongs or kains.
Men wear shirts with trousers or sarongs.
Women usually wear long-sleeved blouses with sarongs or kains. In previous times, the Rejang practiced animism. This is the belief that all natural objects, such as rocks and trees, as well as animals, have immortal souls. However, as a result of the islanders trading with Muslims, Islam edged its way into Sumatra by the end of the thirteenth century. In 1952, British missionaries were allowed to move to Sumatra and work among the Rejang.