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64.7

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Facts and statistics about the Literacy of Madagascar. Updated as of 2018.

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Population Pyramids of the World from 1950 to 2100

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Republic semipresidential system

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What Type Of Government Does Madagascar Have?

Madagascar is an island nation located off the coast of Southeast Africa in the Indian Ocean. The country is made of the main island of Madagascar and several peripheral islands. Since independence from France in 1960, Madagascar has had a volatile political environment. The country has suffered military coups, disputed elections, widespread unrest and even an assassination of the President. Its constitution has been revised throughout the years to what it is currently. Madagascar is a democratic republic with a semi-presidential system of government whereby executive powers are shared between the President and the Prime Minister. Additionally, Madagascar is a multi-party state.

The Executive Branch Of The Government Of Madagascar

The Executive is comprised of the President, the Prime minister, and cabinet ministers. The President represents national unity and is the most powerful official in the country. Also, the President is in charge of foreign policy. Madagascar's President is elected by the public for a term of five years. The President is allowed a maximum of two terms. The national assembly nominates a Prime Minister from one of their own, and the president approves the nomination. Subsequently, the Prime Minister recommends cabinet ministers to the President who approves the nominees. The President and the Prime Minister work in close collaboration with the President being Chief of State and the Prime Minister being the head of the government. The current President, Hery Rajaonarimampianina was elected in December 2013, and he appointed Jean Ravelonarivo as the Prime Minister.

The Legislative Arm Of The Madagascar Government

Madagascar allows for a bicameral parliament made of the National Assembly and Senate. The National Assembly consists of 160 representatives elected from single-member and two-member constituencies. The representatives are elected for four-year terms. Senate is made of 33 members. Out of the 33 members, 22 are elected by local community officials while the President appoints 11 members. Both the Senate and the National Assembly are in charge of making laws that govern Madagascar.

The Judiciary

The Judiciary in Madagascar is independent of the Executive Office and Legislative members. It consists of the Supreme Court, the High Court of Justice, Court of Appeal, and the criminal tribunal. Supreme Court judges are appointed by the President in conjunction with judicial officials. The Judiciary is charged with adjudicating crimes and misbehavior by residents of Madagascar including government officials.

Administrative Territories Of Madagascar

Madagascar is further divided into 22 administrative territories. The territories are sub-divided into 119 districts. The districts are further sub-divided into over 1500 communes. These sub-divisions enable local communities to participate in the governance of the country. Power is decentralized from the central government down to the communes. Leaders of the commune are elected from among members of the community. The communes are in charge of their own economic, cultural, and social development. Regular meetings are held within the communes where the leaders give speeches as their subordinates quietly listen.

Madagascar's system of governance is widely borrowed from the French government. Madagascar was a French colony until its independence in 1960. Even after independence, France maintained significant control over Madagascar and influenced the country's system of governance. All Madagascar citizens above 18 years are eligible to vote, and elected officials must be 21 years and above.

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What Type Of Government Does Madagascar Have?

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Madagascar is an island nation located off the coast of Southeast Africa in the Indian Ocean. The country is made of the main island of Madagascar and several peripheral islands. Since independence from France in 1960, Madagascar has had a volatile political environment.

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1 - Deforestation
2 - Soil Degradation
3 - Overexploitation of living resources

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Madagascar, due to its isolation from the rest of the world, has tremendous biodiversity and high rates of endemic species: of more than 200,000 known species found on Madagascar, more than 80 percent exist nowhere else. Unique to the island are over 100 kinds of lemurs, over 300 species of frogs, and 33 species of tenrecs, miniature hedgehog-like animals. However, it is one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. More than 80 percent of the forests are gone-half of them since the late 1950s-along with a number of large, charismatic species.

Madagascar has suffered environmental degradation over a significant part of its land mass. Forests that once blanketed the eastern third of the island have now been degraded, fragmented, and converted to scrub land. Spiny forests in the south are rapidly giving way to "cactus scrub" as Indigenous vegetation is cut and burned for subsistence charcoal production. Viewed from above, Madagascar's rivers look as if they are bleeding the country to death as soil is eroded from the central highlands. Each year as much as a third of the country burns and 1 percent of its remaining forests are leveled.

This ecological decline has not been ignored. Environmental regulations have been in place since Queen Ranavalona II first banned slash-and-burn agriculture in 1881. The French rulers passed their own edicts which aimed to protect wildlife and conserve forests. Nonetheless, these efforts met mixed results. On one hand there is still forest in Madagascar-forest that houses thousands of endemic species from lemurs to baobabs to Uroplatus geckos. On the other hand, the amount of forest today is less than at any time since Madagascar was first inhabited by humans less than 2,000 years ago.

State of Madagascar's forests

Mahajanga has the largest extent of forest cover of any province in Madagascar, but Antsiranana (91%) and Toamasina (87%) have the highest proportion of forest cover relative to land area. Toamasina has the largest area of "dense" forest, defined as area with more than 50% tree cover, according to Global Forest Watch. Toamasina also had the largest gain and loss of forest between 2001-2012 as well as the highest rate of forest loss.

Table showing forest cover data for Madagascar

Total forest area

Dense forest area

Forest gain

Forest loss

Total land area

According to data from the University of Maryland's Matthew Hansen (presented via Global Forest Watch), Madagascar's rate of forest loss slightly increased over the 2001-2012 period, peaking between 2007 and 2011.

Short term FORMA or forest loss alerts suggest that deforestation may still be trending upward.

Threats to Madagascar's biodiversity and ecosystems

Madagascar is among the world's poorest countries. As such, people's day to day survival is dependent upon natural resource use. Most Malagasy never have an option to become doctors, sports stars, factory workers, or secretaries; they must live off the land that surrounds them, making use of whatever resources they can find. Their poverty costs the country and the world through the loss of the island's endemic biodiversity.

Madagascar's major environmental problems include:

1. Deforestation and habitat destruction

2. Agricultural fires

3. Erosion and soil degradation

4. Overexploitation of living resources including hunting and over-collection of species from the wild

5. Introduction of alien species

DEFORESTATION and HABITAT DESTRUCTION

Tavy or slash-and-burn agriculture

Tavy is the lifeblood of Malagasy culture and the rural economy. Tavy is mostly used for converting natural vegetation into rice fields. Typically an acre or two of forest is cut, burned, and then planted with rice. After a year or two of production the field is left fallow for 4-6 years before the process is repeated. After 2-3 such cycles the soil is exhausted of nutrients and the land is likely colonized by scrub vegetation or alien grasses. On slopes, the new vegetation is often insufficient to anchor soils, making erosion and landslides a problem.

Tavy is the most expedient way for many Malagasy to provide for their families, and for people where day-to-day subsistence is a question there is little concern for the long-term consequences of their actions. From their perspective, as long as there is more forest land freely available for clearing, you might as well use the land before a neighbor does. Tavy for rice also has spiritual and cultural ties that transcend the economic and nutritional value of rice as a crop.

Logging for timber

Logging for timber is especially a problem in the rainforests of eastern Madagascar, particularly on the Masoala peninsula. The high value for Malagasy hardwoods (mostly ebony and rosewood which are in high demand in international markets) makes illegal logging a significant problem in some protected areas.

Timber extraction generally doesn't drive deforestation directly, instead it degrades forests and increases the likelihood of future clearing for subsistence agriculture or other use.

Fuelwood and charcoal production

The endemic spiny forests of Madagascar are being cut at an alarming rate for charcoal production. In eking out a living selling little piles of charcoal along roads in southwestern Madagascar, local people turn towards the nearest plant source which in this case is often Alluaudia trees.

AGRICULTURAL FIRES

Every year as much as a third of Madagascar burns. Fires set for land-clearing and pastureland spread into adjacent wildlands causing damage to the island's unique ecosystems.

EROSION

With its rivers running blood red and staining the surrounding Indian Ocean, astronauts have remarked that it looks as if Madagascar is bleeding to death. This insightful observation highlights one of Madagascar's greatest environmental problems-soil erosion. Deforestation of Madagascar's central highlands, plus weathering from natural geologic and soil conditions, has resulted in widespread soil erosion, which in some areas may top 400 tons/ha per year. For Madagascar, a country that relies on agricultural production for the foundation of its economy, the loss of this soil is especially costly.

OVEREXPLOITATION OF LIVING RESOURCES

Madagascar's native species have been aggressively hunted and collected by people desperately seeking to provide for their families. While it has been illegal to kill or keep lemurs as pets since 1964, lemurs are hunted today in areas where they are not protected by local taboos ( fady). Tenrecs and carnivores are also widely hunted as a source of protein.

Reptiles and amphibians are enthusiastically collected for the international pet trade. Chameleons, geckos, snakes, and tortoises are the most targeted.

The waters around Madagascar serve as a rich fishery and are an important source of income for villagers. Unfortunately, fishing is poorly regulated. Foreign fishing boats encroach on artisanal fishing areas leaving locals and the marine fauna with the short end of the stick. Sharks, sea cucumbers, and lobster may be harvested at increasingly unsustainable rates.

INTRODUCTION OF ALIEN SPECIES

The introduction of alien species has doomed many of Madagascar's endemic species. The best example of damage wrought by introduced species can be found in the island's rivers and lakes. Adaptable and aggressive tilapia, introduced as a food fish, have displaced the native cichlids.

There is really little use bemoaning past environmental degradation in Madagascar. Now the concern should be how to slow this ecological decline and how to best utilize lands already degraded so they can support productive activities today and for future generations. Without improving the well-being of the average Malagasy person, we cannot expect Madagascar's wildlands to persist as fully functional systems and continue to cater to the needs of people.

EMERGING THREATS TO MADAGASCAR'S ECOSYSTEMS

Madagascar is increasingly the target of industrial developers that aim to transform landscapes for commodity production, including mineral extraction (ranging from gemstones to metals), energy development (extensive heavy oil reserves have been identified in the western part of the country), and plantation agriculture (large-scale oil palm and sugar cane cultivation schemes have been proposed). These activities could take a substantial toll on remaining habitats for the island's unique wildlife.

Solutions to deforestation in Madagascar

Suggested reading - Books

Recent environmental news on Madagascar [ XML]

CIA-World Factbook Profile
FAO-Forestry Profile World Resources Institute

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Madagascar, due to its isolation from the rest of the world, has tremendous biodiversity and high rates of endemic species: of more than 200,000 known species found on Madagascar, more than 80 percent exist nowhere else. Unique to the island are over 100 kinds of lemurs, over 300 species of frogs, and 33 species of tenrecs, miniature hedgehog-like animals.

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Recent intercommunal conflicts in Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan and Zimbabwe bring to mind the role of a certain ethnocentrism or tribalism in conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa. In Rwanda, the genocide that took place because of enmity between Hutus and Tutsis has become our contemporary example of tribalism gone wild and uncontrolled. Similar conflicts in Kenya between the Luos and Kikuyus, in Liberia between the Americo-Liberians and the native Africans, in Nigeria between Northern Hausa/Fulani and the Southern Ibos and/or Yorubas have been equally violent and tragic ( map image from here).

What we are yet to uncover is a mapping of how ethnic differences become prominent; in the narrative reports from the recent conflicts in Kenya, there were incidents of long-time neighbors turning against each other; we find the same narratives from Rwanda and Liberia where neighbors and friends become enemies overnight. How do ethnic differences turn into tragic violence between groups? Are some African countries better able to prevent ethnic differences from turning into violent communal conflicts? When and how do ethnic differences trump peaceful and fruitful social interactions over time between two groups? How remarkable is it that the 11 countries listed above constitute a third of all the countries in that region? These are questions that speak to the extent of social distance among ethnic groups.

Most importantly, does this tribalism or ethnocentrism in sub-Saharan Africa bear any resemblance to white racism in America and Europe? I think so, when we consider the outcomes of it - ethnic or racial patronage, economic rewards that accrue to citizens based on tribal or ethnic and racial affiliations, and the violence that one race/ethnic group/tribe visits on the other.

In Africa, after independence, the emergent nation-states shunned tribal-based or ethnic-based political parties - the so-called 'tribal unions' were not consonant with the ideals of the new nationalism based on a progressive ideal of a community of diverse ethnic groups. Even there, some of the political parties evolved along tribal or ethnic lines. The strain between the traditional structures (chiefs, kings and their privileged groups) and the nationalists was palpable and, I argue, has not completely subsided.

Another important factor is the sinister role Europeans played in heightening inter-ethnic tensions and conflicts, as noted by historical accounts (compare, for instance volumes 7 & 8 of the General History of Africa, published by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO). To what extent can we ascribe the current post-independence ethnic or tribal torment to the distal insidious machinations of colonizers who clearly favored one ethnic over others? For instance, we need to map the historical distal role the British played in instigating the Biafra War in Nigeria; and the historical distal role the Belgians played in the genocide in Rwanda and the current political and economic morass in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In Liberia, we would need to map the historical distal role of racism in fomenting and justifying the domination of the Americo-Liberians over the ethnic groups of the interior including the Kru and the Mano. We know that the tension between these groups eventually led to a brutal civil war in the country.

We need to study these two phenomena - racism and tribalism - together more closely. Africans from south of the Sahara who cry 'woe' when they encounter racism in America, must search themselves for ideas of ethnic or tribal superiority as well and how these tribal ideas configure social relations in their countries of birth.

In reality, ethnic or tribal stereotypes persist in Africa. Recently (May 2008), I received from a friend an email spewing stereotypes (some negative) about four ethnic groups in Ghana [compare a similar postinghere]; at first, I laughed at the rambling message; but the subtext was troubling; the email was spreading stereotypes I had heard growing up some 40 years ago in Ghana (credit dyer). I wondered: how can the repetition of these stereotypes help social interaction among groups? Such an email regurgitating stereotypes about racial groups in America would be racist and crass and it is no less when it is about groups in Africa. The consequences of lingering racial, ethnic and tribal stereotypes can be tragic - in the US and sub Saharan Africa. Ultimately, these stereotypes suggest a certain level of social distance - spatially and metaphorically.

I think we must instigate a global analysis of tribal, ethnic, racist thinking to see where they overlap and how we can combat them. We should survey African immigrants about their attitudes on ethnicity, and to what effect their perceptions of tribal or ethnic superiority interact with their experiences of racism.

But I think there is a broader research agenda here as well; how does white racism abet ideas or perceptions of ethnic group superiority in other continents and countries?

~ Yoku Shaw-Taylor PhD
National Opinion Research Center
University of Chicago

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Ethnic Conflict in Sub Saharan Africa: Parallels to US Racism? -

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Recent intercommunal conflicts in Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan and Zimbabwe bring to mind the role of a certain ethnocentrism or tribalism in conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa. In Rwanda, the genocide that took place because of enmity between Hutus and Tutsis has become our contemporary example of tribalism gone wild and uncontrolled.

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1 - Protestant Christianity
2 - Roman Catholicism
3 - Islam

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A small church in Madagascar.

Madagascar has one of the highest proportions of indigenous religious practitioners in Africa. The constitution of Madagascar provides for the freedom of religion and registration of religious groups is allowed by the government. The religious landscape in Madagascar is characterized by tolerance, although isolated cases of societal discrimination are occasionally reported.

Religious Beliefs In Madagascar

Traditional Malagasy Beliefs Honoring Zanahary and Family Ancestors

The Traditional Malagasy Beliefs Honoring Zanahary and Family Ancestors is adhered to by 50% of the country's population. The Malagasy people trace their ancestry to Asia, Arab, and African origin and thus pride in unique religious practices. The traditional religion is centered on one creator known as Zanahary or Andriamanitra who is neither male nor female. Zanahary is believed to have unlimited power and is, therefore, able to bless those who act according to his will and punish those who offend him.

The close relationship between the living and the ancestors is integral in the traditional religion. Ancestors are believed to be the link between the living and the Supreme God and to be actively looking for their descendants. Adherents of the religion observe various taboos (fady) to avoid the disapproval of the ancestors.

The Malagasy hold periodical ceremonies to venerate their ancestors, where they open their family tombs and re-wrap the dead in fresh shrouds amidst the jubilant celebration. Tomb building is a common practice in Madagascar, and the tombs are often more expensive and substantial concerning the houses of the living. Tombs have become a cultural landmark on the African island. Respect for ancestors is widespread in the Island and unites all the citizens, even most of those who practice other religions.

Protestant Christianity

Protestant Christianity boasts 25% of Madagascar's population. The religion is mainly rooted among the Merina ethnic group, who are concentrated in the country's central highlands. Protestantism Christianity on the island is traced back to 1818 when the first Christian Missionaries from the London Missionary Society arrived. The missionaries translated the Bible, erected churches and began converting the Malagasy people.

Although the process of conversion to Christianity was stifled by Queen Ranavalona I, the religion found its bearing during the reign of Queen Ranavalona II. Protestantism grew to become the religion of the royalty and nobility on the island. The three oldest denominations are the Lutheran, Anglican, and Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar are all part of the Malagasy Council of Churches which has significant influence in the country's politics. Other Protestant Churches include the Seventh-day Adventist and Jehovah's Witness. Most of the adherents integrate Christianity with traditional religious practices.

Roman Catholicism, Orthodox, Mormonism and other Forms of Christianity

Roman Catholicism, Orthodox, Mormonism and other Forms of Christianity are represented by 16% of the country's population. The Roman Catholic Church is popular with the Betsileo ethnic group. Introduced to the island by French missionaries, Roman Catholicism gained popularity during French colonization. Being part of the Malagasy Council of Churches, the Catholic Church maintains a degree of political influence in the country.

Orthodox Christianity was introduced to the island by Greek traders and still has a following till date. A smaller population subscribes to Mormonism as well as other forms of Christianity.

Islam

Islam is practiced by 7% of Madagascar's population. Madagascar's history reflects the immigration of Arabs to the island and continued interactions with Arab merchants and traders. Arab immigrants trace their origin to Comoros, Pakistan, and India. Sunni Islam is the most dominant Islam branch alongside small numbers of Shia Muslims and Ahmadis. Modern day immigration from Islamic territories including Yemen and Iran has further influenced the number of Muslims in the country. Muslims are actively involved in commerce and Islam has a notable presence in the country's media.

Other Forms Of Beliefs And Religions

Baha'i Faith, Hinduism, other Beliefs and Irreligion have a 2% share of the country's population. Hinduism is mainly a reserve for the Indian immigrants in the country. Baha'i Faith is a relatively new religion in the country, having been introduced in the 1950s. Irreligion reflects a small number of Malagasy people.

Rank

Belief System

Share of Population of Madagascar

1

Traditional Malagasy Beliefs Honoring Zanahary and Family Ancestors

50%

2

Protestant Christianity

25%

3

Roman Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Mormonism, and Other Forms of Christianity

16%

4

Islam

7%

Baha'i Faith, Hinduism, Other Beliefs, and Irreligion

2%

1. Home

2. Society

3. Religious Beliefs In Madagascar

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Madagascar has one of the highest proportions of indigenous religious practitioners in Africa. The constitution of Madagascar provides for the freedom of religion and registration of religious groups is allowed by the government. The religious landscape in Madagascar is characterized by tolerance, although isolated cases of societal discrimination are occasionally reported.

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1 - Lasary
2 - Smalona
3 - Ravimbomanga sy patsamena

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The cuisine of Madagascar is one of the most interesting in the world and is influenced by French, Indian, African and Arabic cultures. The meals don't really resemble the staple foods you see in most African countries, with the exception of gigantic portions of rice. Typical flavors incorporate generous usage of ginger, onion, garlic, curry powder, vanilla, lime juice and local vegetables. Many of the dishes were also part of royal dishes that the 19th-century monarchs routinely ate at festivals. Some of the cuisine might seem strange, but don't worry, there aren't any Madagascar hissing cockroaches on our list. Here are 10 foods from Madagascar that you have to try.

Akoho sy voanio

This main course is one of the most popular meals on the island that you'll find in pretty much any Malagasy restaurant. It's made with coconut milk, tomatoes, chicken, onion, garlic, ginger and ground pepper. Thai chicken curry fans are sure to love this one.

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Incredible Edibles: 10 Foods From Madagascar That You Have To Try

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The cuisine of Madagascar is one of the most interesting in the world and is influenced by French, Indian, African and Arabic cultures. The meals don't really resemble the staple foods you see in most African countries, with the exception of gigantic portions of rice.

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1 - Malagasy
2 - French

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Madagascar is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean and is made up of the island of Madagascar and several other small islands. The nation has a population of over 24.4 million people and is primarily made up of the Malagasy ethnic group who account for over 90% of the total population.The country is a Francophone nation and has Malagasy and French as the official languages.

Official Language: Malagasy

Malagasy is the most popular language in Madagascar with the majority of Madagascar residents being conversant with the language. The 1958 constitution of Madagascar established Malagasy as one of the two official languages in the country, the other being French. However, the 1992 Constitution made no provisions concerning the official status of Malagasy language with the language maintaining its status albeit as a de facto. The 2007 Constitution reinstated Malagasy as one of three official languages in Madagascar with the language also becoming the national language of the country. There were an estimated 18 million native Malagasy speakers in Madagascar in 2007. Malagasy is the Malayo-Polynesian language of the Austronesian language group. The language is more closely related to native languages spoken in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia and is distinct from native languages used in neighboring African countries such as Mozambique and South Africa.

While the majority of Malagasy speakers are found in Madagascar, a significant number of native speakers are also present in neighboring island nations such as Comoros and Reunion. Malagasy speakers are also found in small numbers in France and Quebec, Canada spoken by Madagascar expatriates. The language originated from ancient Austronesian people who were the first settlers on the island who migrated from Southeast Asia. There are two distinct dialects of Malagasy in Madagascar, and they are the Western dialect and the Eastern dialect. The Eastern Malagasy dialect has the highest number of speakers, and it is prominently used in the eastern region of the country while the Western dialect is primarily used in Madagascar's western region. Ancient Madagascar residents used Arabic Ajami script commonly known as a Sorabe script when writing Malagasy manuscripts. However, in recent years, the language is written with the use of Latin orthography.

Official Language: French

French is an official language in Madagascar as provided by the Constitution of Madagascar. The majority of Madagascar residents can converse in French with the language being used in learning institutions as well as in government institutions as a medium of instruction. This foreign language was introduced in Madagascar after the island became a French colony in 1897 with a large number of settlers from France relocating to the island and controlled much of the country's wealth. After gaining independence in 1958, the country maintained French as a national language due to its proliferation into the local population. After the country had gained independence, most of the French settlers left, leaving behind a small number of native French speakers. These native French speakers are currently estimated to number over 123,000 people or 0.618% of the total Madagascar population. As an official language, French is used as the language of instruction in learning institutions all over Madagascar.

Major Foreign Language: English

While Madagascar is categorized as a Francophone country, English is also used as a means of communication particularly in the major cities due to globalization and the popularity of music and movies from English-speaking countries. The 2007 Constitution indicated English as one of the official languages of the country, but its status was withdrawn during the 2010 referendum. Presently, English is primarily used in matters relating to Madagascar's foreign policy.

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What Languages Are Spoken In Madagascar?

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Madagascar is an island nation located in the Indian Ocean and is made up of the island of Madagascar and several other small islands. The nation has a population of over 24.4 million people and is primarily made up of the Malagasy ethnic group who account for over 90% of the total population.The country is a Francophone nation and has Malagasy and French as the official languages.

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1 - Merina
2 - Betsimisaraka
3 - Betsileo

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More than nine-tenths of the population in Madagascar is Malagasy, comprising of about 20 ethnic groups and Merina is the dominant group. All these ethnic groups have different cultures, norms, and religious beliefs. The cultural and religious background of the various tribes rotates around the worship of ancestors and sees them as intermediaries between God and the living. It is hard to declare strict regional boundaries for each tribal group as they keep moving and interacting with each other.

Merina

They are people of dominant highlands and they form 26% of the whole population of Madagascar. They emerged as a politically dominant group in the course of the 17th to the 18th century. They captured non-Merinas and forced them into slavery, and later replaced them with imported slaves from East Africa by 1850. The British missionaries converted the Merina upper-class members to Protestants in the 19th century. Dominion of Merina Kingdom came to an end with the first Franco-Hora War of 1883-1885, and Merina language became the national language. Merina had three different classes comprised of the Andriana who are nobles, the Horas who are free men, and the Andero who were slaves. Their stable food is rice and they circumcise boys after seven years where relatives request for blessing and protection from ancestors. They bury their dead in family tombs located in ancestral villages.

Betsimisaraka

They are the inhabitants of east central and northern coast of Madagascar and constitute 15% of the total population. They speak a dialect of Malagasy. Moreover, they are inseparable multitudes where they live along the narrow eastern coastal strip thus were able to interact with African Bantu and Asians of astroasian descent. The Betsimisaraka kingdom was founded in early 18th century by Ratsimilao which united various chiefdoms along 400 miles. The kingdom collapsed after the death of the dynasty's third ruler in 1791. They then fell under the rule of the expanding Merina to the West until the advent of colonial rule in 1890s. They are historically reputed as skilled sailors and pirates. They believe in sorcery and a wide range of supernatural forces involving respect for ancestors, spirit possession, ritual sacrifice of zebu and patriarchal social structure. They practice reburial (famadihana) and circumcision (sambatra). Most taboos and folktales revolve around lemurs and crocodiles.

Betsileo

They began as an administrative subdivision in the 19th century. They were a highland ethnic group and are the third largest group of the population of Madagascar constituting 12% of the total population. Betsileo means 'invincible.' They were once occupants of the southern part of Madagascar plateau and organized into kingdoms of Fandriana, Fisakana, Manandriana, Isandra which existed independently. Randama conquered and reorganized the kingdoms turning most of them into slaves and trading others to the Europeans. They claim a common heritage with Antemoro from the east coast. They live in huts made of wood and some vegetative fiber which have changed to mud and bricks. They believed in diviners and astrologists who set dates for ceremonies and witch doctors who manipulate the magic.

Tsimihety

Their settlement in Madagascar dates back to the 16th century, and they descend from immigrants from the east coast villages of Betsimisaraka who fled the Merina rule. When a Tsimihety dies and is far from their homeland, they bury him in the land of death and later exhume the body and bring it to their native land, put it in a new coffin and burn the old one. Their music is called Malesa; they dance in an easy way with a man behind a woman. Unlike other tribes the Tsimihety have their unique marriage customs and traditional music. They rarely recognize authority. The Tsimihety are animists, believing in a supreme being who presides over the spirit world inhabited by their ancestors, and perform rituals, offerings and adhere to a strict system of taboos.

To fully understand the character of Madagascar's population and their historical development, we need to appreciate the inhabitant's common characteristics including language and kinship structure, as well as the divisions based on geographical regions. Among other ethnic groups that exist in Madagascar is Sahara and antandroy though they form the smaller percentages of the total population. These ethnic divisions correspond with the major geographical divisions of the island. Within these regions, the people have certain cultural similarities accentuated by the natural environment.

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More than nine-tenths of the population in Madagascar is Malagasy, comprising of about 20 ethnic groups and Merina is the dominant group. All these ethnic groups have different cultures, norms, and religious beliefs. The cultural and religious background of the various tribes rotates around the worship of ancestors and sees them as intermediaries between God and the living.

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After Information Just Afar Entry Play Lighting them Than Indeed Conditions Also Sub Saharan Africa Physical Map - Africa Map

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Sub Saharan Africa Physical Map - Through the thousand photographs on the internet regarding sub saharan africa physical map, we all selects the very best series using ideal image resolution just for you, and now this images is considered one of photos collections within our very best photographs gallery with regards to Sub Saharan Africa Physical Map.