The name is believed to derive from the 9 tribes of Minangkabau, a people originally from West Sumatra (present-day Indonesia) who settled in the area. Minangkabau features are still visible today in traditional architecture and the dialect of Malay spoken. Unlike the hereditary monarchs of the other royal Malay states, the Sultan of Negeri Sembilan is selected from among the 9 tribes and is known as Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
The capital of Negeri Sembilan is Seremban. Other important cities are Port Dickson and Nilai.