Madagascar Cultural Insight

The people of Madagascar share one culture and language even though the Malagasy people are divided into 18 tribes whose boundaries are based on old kingdoms rather than ethnic characteristics. Most Malagasy are of mixed race, but some, such as the Merina from the Antananarivo area, are predominantly Indonesian in appearance, and others, like the Vezo of the southwest coast, have close ties to eastern Africa and look like black Africans. Music and dance are important aspects of Malagasy lifestyle.

 Hira Gasy and famudhiana are two of their spectacular ceremonies, which celebrate values like honesty and traditional value. These rhythms are accompanied by the flute, whistle and valiha, an unusual 28-stringed instrument resembling a bassoon but played like a harp. Kabary, the oral tradition is practised to pass on old fables, legends, songs and stories. Kabary's roots lie in early political assemblies from where it evolved and extended to the general public as a form of entertainment. Kabary is an integral part of hira gasy, which includes music, dancing and story telling. Hira Gasy is held regularly in Tana on most Sunday afternoons.

Native handicrafts are many and make good souvenirs to take back. They include lamba, a craft, which uses cloth squares of varying textures to create traditional designs and zafimaniny or wood marquetry, which is commonly detailed on furniture, chessboards and wooden boxes. Mahafaly crosses and vangavanga bracelets made of silver and jewellery made from shells and precious stones are other local crafts. Baskets, mats, bags, wall hangings and hats woven from reeds, raffia and straw and antemore paper decorated with dried flowers linen, clothes using traditional embroidery are other popular shopping attractions.