kampung

Kampung is a Malay term that refers to a village or a traditional community. It is used across Malay-speaking regions, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore, to describe either rural settlements or distinctive urban neighborhoods with a shared cultural identity. The word conveys more than geography; it evokes a way of life rooted in local networks, kinship, and everyday practices.

In rural contexts, kampungs are typically clusters of houses that may be arranged around shared spaces such as a mosque, a village hall, or a market. In parts of Indonesia and Malaysia, traditional kampung houses are often built on stilts and set along narrow lanes or winding paths that follow the natural landscape. Social life in kampung communities tends to center on family ties, collective activities, and informal leadership from respected elders or community members.

In contemporary usage, kampung also describes urban or peri-urban neighborhoods that retain a sense of traditional community amid modernization. In cities, the term can denote areas with a familiar, village-like social fabric, even as housing and infrastructure are modernized. The phrase orang kampung refers to people from rural or traditional backgrounds, while kampung life highlights enduring customs, local events, and neighborliness that are commonly associated with these communities.

Administrative and cultural aspects vary by country. In Indonesia, kampung is often an informal designation within a district, while in Malaysia and Singapore it remains a powerful cultural concept tied to heritage and identity.