Destination Madagascar

Friday, 08 July 2022 06:30

Eric Petitjean: We need more direct flights and more airlines servicing Majunga.

Written by Eric Petitjean

Boeny is one of the most beautiful regions in Madagascar, blessed with not-to-be-missed breathtaking sites such as the Anjohibe Caves, the Ankarafantsika National Park, the Sacred Lake (Lac Sacré), Le Cirque Rouge, the beautiful Amborovy beaches, Petite Plage and Grand Pavois, the Antrema Reserve, the Katsepy lighthouse, the Mahavavy Kinkony complex, the Tsingy of Namoroka, etc. Since 2015, Coco Lodge Majunga has been granted the License C as a travel and tourist services agency, allowing the hotel to offer multi-day…

Saturday, 29 January 2022 06:00

Ile Sainte-Marie: What does the legend tell about the island?

Written by Volahanta Raharimanana

Festival of whales, historic sites, heavenly beaches, Sainte-Marie remains an inescapable and a dream place for vacation. Also known as Nosy Boraha, Sainte-Marie is a tropical island located at the heart of the Indian Ocean. It lies in the Northeast of Madagascar and is a small island – only 60 kilometers long and five kilometers wide. Thanks to its idyllic seascape and its places full of history, the island has become a popular tourist destination that amazes not only foreigners…

Thursday, 03 February 2022 06:00

The town of Ampefy: the place to enjoy Madagascar’s only geysers.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

Ampefy is located about two-hour drive away from Antananarivo, on the shores of the Itasy Lake. The small village of Ampefy is a greatly appreciated weekend destination to trade stressful city life for a more peaceful and quiet environment. Visitors are welcomed in a countryside setting, the best choice for relaxation in an exceptional landscape showcasing fields of crops and traditional houses. A boat trip around Lake Itasy, a bike ride to the Lily Waterfall, and a visit to the…

Thursday, 14 October 2021 09:00

Traditional “kilalao Malagasy”: for educational and social purpose.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

The Kilalao Malagasy (Malagasy games or entertainments) were created based on in-depth studies of the Ntaolo — or Malagasy ancestors — to train the future generations' minds to be able to cope with daily life, do household chores, and most importantly, to predict life ahead. The Kilalao Malagasy were designed not only for an entertainment purpose, but also to educate, discipline and inspire Malagasy children. Let us explore what the kilalao, the tsilalao and the lalao are. What is the…

Thursday, 30 September 2021 05:00

Literature: The traditional Malagasy poetry as a cultural treasure.

Written by Volahanta Raharimanana

The Malagasy language is the foundation of both the oral and written forms of the Malagasy literature. The first known form of literature present in Madagascar was the oral tradition or verbal art, which is considered one of its foremost artistic traditions expressed in the forms of hainteny (poetry), kabary (public discourse) and ohabolana (proverbs). As an artistic tradition, hainteny or Malagasy poetry that is originally an oral literary component holds an important role in featuring Malagasy folklore wrapped up…

Tuesday, 28 September 2021 06:32

The Havoria: the great feast in the southern part of Madagascar.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

The havoria is a tradition of Mahafaly and Antandroy tribes to mark important life events. The ritual of havoria is impeccably regulated, whether it is for a collective circumcision or a funeral. The same principle is applicable to all havoria rituals. There are three stages before arriving at the event for which it was held. Let us consider the case of a collective circumcision of the children in a village. The first stage of the havoria is the milahatse (consultation…

Friday, 10 September 2021 05:17

Vanilla bourbon of Madagascar: the unparalleled complex spice.

Written by Volahanta Raharimanana

Madagascar stands unique as an island in the Indian Ocean. Home to some of the world’s most unique flora and fauna, Madagascar is rich in more than 12,000 plant species, most of which are endemic to the island. Orchid species are among those endemics, and we can count more than 1,000 different species in Madagascar. Belonging to orchid species, vanilla is a plant that can be found anywhere in the world but is today grown in abundance in some regions…

Tuesday, 07 September 2021 06:35

Tsiory Panöel RAZAFINDRASATA: A young and qualified Malagasy kitesurf instructor

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

Back to the Malibu Wave Contest 2019. The contest – which is one of the biggest kitesurfing contests in the world – took place on Ganh-Vietnam beaches in January 2019. During that event, Tsiory Panoël Razafindrasata achieved an honorable performance, making it to the semi-finals. How did it all start? It all started in 2013 when I was on vacation in Diego. When I visited the “Baie de Sakalava” and first played kitesurf, I immediately told myself, "I will go…

Monday, 30 August 2021 06:56

Visiting Toliara: an inspiring journey towards Vezo people.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

Toliara, the southern Malagasy city, is known as the city of the sun because of its record of sunshine among all the cities in Madagascar. The streets are full of sunshine all year round with an average temperature of 28°C and it almost never rains, between 30 to 40 cm of rain per year. In Toliara, the wind called the TSIOKANTSIMO blows all the time. It comes from the south and it often promotes a sea full of anchovies. There…

Friday, 27 August 2021 05:38

Tantara vato: a game that marked Malagasy girls' childhood.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

The truth always comes out of the mouths of children. With tantara, a game of dolls without dolls, little girls are already mothers and look at the adult world with an often-penetrating gaze. Knock, knock! I am the mother! Knock, knock! I am the girl! As a little girl, who has not played this at least once in her childhood? Find a small corner of a sidewalk, a staircase step, or a low wall and there you can start your…

Thursday, 19 August 2021 06:02

Alavolon-jaza: a Malagasy haircut ritual before naming a child.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

When a baby is six or seven months old, tradition dictates that the curls be cut for the first time. This is the ceremony of alavolon-jaza at the end of which the hair is mixed with food and served to the guests. While in other cultures, cutting a child's hair for the first time is a harmless event, in Madagascar, especially in the central highlands, it should not go unnoticed. The ceremony of alavolon-jaza (first cut) is as important as…

Sunday, 15 August 2021 05:00

Malagasy verbal arts: an introduction to oral traditions.

Written by Volahanta Raharimanana

Madagascar’s cultural wealth sets the country apart from its African neighbors located only 260 miles away. These differences are found in its traditions and customs, its language, and form of communication. Historically, Madagascar had one and only form of communication and the history of its language stood impressive since it was influenced by various cultures from different places. Historians relate that Malagasy used to communicate between themselves only in a verbal way, which is usually known as “oral tradition”, or…

Friday, 13 August 2021 06:27

The kabosy: an exceptional and unique sound from Madagascar

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

When traveling in Madagascar, no one can escape the original vibes that the island offers. Throughout the country, people dance and sing to the sound of the kabosy, a typical instrument of Madagascar. Halfway between the guitar and the mandolin, the kabosy has frets that do not cover the whole width of the neck, which allows to play chords with a simple slash. Guitarists will understand! The shape, the material and even the name of the kabosy, and especially the…

Tuesday, 10 August 2021 05:37

The FADY: what you should know before visiting Madagascar.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

The Malagasy taboos or fady form part of the Malagasy customs, and have been passed down from generation to generation. The so-called fady is unique among other practices because of the punishments that directly affect the individual and can lead to life-threatening disabilities. It can also be dangerous to descendants of those who willingly disobey and denigrate it. Fady is basically based on the belief in secret powers that the ancient Malagasy used to believe in, although we no longer…

Saturday, 07 August 2021 05:00

Madagascar is not a DreamWorks film setting where penguins and lions dwell.

Written by Volahanta Raharimanana

Some foreigners often get confused about Madagascar until they meet Malagasy people in person. Most of them have always believed that Madagascar was an island that only houses lemurs and fossas. A perception long shaped by … a cartoon! Madagascar as a DreamWorks Animation. In 2005, the world’s famous American animation studio known as DreamWorks produced an animated comedy film called “Madagascar”. Despite some critics around the plot of the animated movie and against all expectations, the film has come…

Sunday, 25 July 2021 18:36

LOVASOA 4C: at the heart of the history of Antsirabe.

Written by RAVELOJAONA Idealy Misandratra Avo Fenohaja

Vakinankaratra is a region in the South-east part of Madagascar, on the National Road 7, about 172 km from Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. The gate of this region is the town of Antsirabe. Famous for its potatoes, rickshaws and cheap vegetables, the town is one of the most visited places by tourists in Madagascar. But what is the history behind such fame? Antsirabe – its past… The early history of Antsirabe can be traced back in the 1860’s when…

Thursday, 22 July 2021 05:00

Famadihana: a second burial to honor the ancestors.

Written by Volahanta Raharimanana

Thanks to its various origins, ranging from Southeast Asia to East Africa, Madagascar has become the melting pot of many diverse cultures. Today, each region has its own customs and traditions making the cultural diversity of Madagascar. The Famadihana – or exhumation – is, for example, commonly practiced by the people dwelling in the highlands of Madagascar. Practicing Famadihana as a tribute to ancestors. Every seven or nine years, traditional Malagasy family members reunite to celebrate the famadihana which literally…

Thursday, 15 July 2021 05:20

“Afindrafindrao”: the Malagasy version of the English quadrille dance?

Written by Volahanta Raharimanana

Modern Malagasy culture can be described as a blend of various cultures. If we look back at Madagascar’s settlement history, from the “Vazimba” era – told as the first inhabitants of the island who are of mixed Indonesian and African origins – to its current population, Madagascar’s cultural identity has evolved over the centuries. In the Malagasy culture, dance and music have always played an important role in expressing emotions and thoughts. With no music and dance, traditional ceremonies and…

Friday, 09 July 2021 03:33

The fady kambana in Madagascar: a discriminatory custom.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

For people in Antambahoaka on the southeast coast, in Mananjary and surrounding area, raising twins is seen as a "fady" (taboo). The origin of the fady kambana or "taboo of twins" remains unknown. According to legend, the original Antambahoaka man married a woman who died after giving birth to twins. His two other wives suffered the same fate. This led him to decide that his descendants would never raise twins again. In the Manajary region, twins, regardless of their gender,…

Monday, 05 July 2021 04:30

Sainte-Marie Island in Madagascar: the old refuge of pirates.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

The Sainte-Marie island, located in the north-east of Madagascar, stretches over about 50 kilometers. Between the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, the island abounds in assets to shelter sailors in search of food and peace: a vast coastline with many creeks, a luxuriant vegetation, fresh water and a warm and welcoming community. The most famous bay of Ambodifotatra treasures memories of a mythical period when Sainte-Marie was a hideout for pirates. The Island of Forbans, dominated by the pirates'…

Saturday, 03 July 2021 04:41

Discover the village at the bottom of Manambato waters.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

« Lahaly eh! Tsara be fanotsafa e! » Such is how we greet people in Manambato, in the eastern side of the island. Many holidaymakers travel to Manambato because of its free clean air. Manambato is simply put a touristic destination. Yet, it is noteworthy that Manambato has its own history. The unique feature of Manambato lies in its blue river along with its beautiful beaches. Geographically, Manambato is part of the fokontany that makes up Vohitranivona, in the district…

Thursday, 01 July 2021 05:00

Malagasy culture and the burial of a new-born’s umbilical cord

Written by Volahanta Raharimanana

Madagascar definitely has a unique culture. The island is known for its blended culture due to the various traditions practiced by its different ethnic groups. This uniqueness always makes tourists and even locals amazed by the things that cannot be experienced anywhere else in the world. One of the common customs and traditions perpetrated by all Malagasy people, regardless of their ethnicity, is the umbilical cord burial. It consists in entombing the placenta and umbilical cord of a new-born baby.…

Friday, 25 June 2021 05:38

June 26th, 2021: Madagascar celebrates its Diamond Jubilee plus one year.

Written by Volahanta Raharimanana

The day reminds us how Madagascar hardly fought to gain its independence over France. For more than 60 years, Madagascar and its people had been under French control until it officially changed on June 26th, 1960. It was worth the fight. If we look back, Madagascar had already been through a lot and had much to fight for. History tells that, in the 19th century, when the island was united and ruled as the kingdom of Madagascar, France invaded it…

Saturday, 19 June 2021 08:19

Mokary: a delicious Malagasy doughnut.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

Mokary is a typically Malagasy recipe. Sometimes, people mistake mokary for the famous “mofo gasy” which literally means Malagasy bread. Mokary is a small, sweet, succulent, and appetizing doughnut, flavored with coconut, or chocolate, or even cheese. Usually, Malagasy people make it their breakfast in the morning, but of course it can be a taste bud’s pure delight at any time of the day.What are the ingredients for a delicious Mokary? Then we need:• 250 g of wheat flour• 300…

Thursday, 17 June 2021 05:00

The role of Taboo or “fady” in the Malagasy tradition and riches conservation

Written by Volahanta Raharimanana

In the Malagasy culture, a fady is a system of prohibition implemented by ancestors or locals to protect, for example, a long-standing custom and/or tradition or a particular site or area. It is no doubt that Madagascar has considerable natural resources and is famous for having a unique and rich biodiversity. Home to thousands of plants and animal species found nowhere else in the world, the island’s endemism may increase the rate of threat of its resources and may make…

Monday, 14 June 2021 05:29

Angano: a Malagasy way of educating children.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

In many foreign countries, numerous tales are written to educate children such as "Sleeping Beauty", "Beauty and the Beast", "The Little Mermaid", and many others. Those stories are wonderful, but Malagasy people also have their own. For the Ntaolo, the Malagasy ancestors, they created the Angano — Malagasy tales— for their descendants to learn from. In old times, Angano were told in the evening around the fire when the sun sets, and the moon rises in its place. Angano is…

Sunday, 06 June 2021 05:00

Respecting elders and ancestors is a fundamental part of the Malagasy cultural and social identity.

Written by Volahanta Raharimanana

In Madagascar, Western culture prevails and continues to profoundly affect today’s Malagasy society. This is partly due to the increasing globalization process that can pressure some countries to forgo their cultural identity and values to go with the mainstream. Maintaining their own cultural values, nowadays, may seem rather out of the ordinary. However, what differs from one country to another is its cultural identity which is wrapped up in the country’s history. In Madagascar, since the time of first inhabitants,…

Friday, 04 June 2021 05:30

Moraingy: A brutal mixed martial arts tradition in Madagascar.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

In Mahajanga and on the northwest coast of Madagascar in general, people are fond of manly sports — contact sports. Welcome to the land of moraingy, also called “ringa” in the southern side of the island Moraingy is a typical Malagasy martial art whose origin can be traced back to the 16th century, first as a means of defense against zebu rustlers. According to research made by experts, this local game rooted in a fight called "Tomoi Maley". It was…

Wednesday, 26 May 2021 05:56

The Fanorona: A traditional Malagasy strategy game.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

The Fanorona is a traditional Malagasy entertainment that requires a lot of thought. During the royal era, the fanorona was related to "Fanandroana"— the Malagasy action of telling the good and bad days. As time went by, it was played like go or chess, checkers or other games. Basically, the Malagasy were the first to create and to play fanorona. Indeed, the fanorona originated in the 14th century, according to researchers. It was a very popular game and was favored…

Friday, 21 May 2021 05:46

Donia remains the biggest festival of the Indian Ocean.

Written by Iangotiana Rakotovao

The Donia festival, which means "beautiful life" in Malagasy Sakalava, is mainly focused on cultural exchanges between the different islands of the Indian Ocean. It is a cultural event created in 1993 by a group of friends. They envisioned to create a cultural festival in Nosy-Be, so they formed the association "COFESTIN" which is the organizing committee of the festival in the northwest of Madagascar. The DONIA has become very popular part of the Malagasy culture. As every year, the…

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