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Men and Women wear a traditional cloth called a lamba. They have many uses for the lamba such as carrying children and shielding the sun. When staying at home people may wear western clothing.

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There are two official languages: Malagasy and French. The most used language is Malagasy. Although these are both popular, English is a major foreign language.

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Some relationships are arranged by both parents in order to strengthen family and social relationships. When the couple does get married, it is usually done so in a church. The wedding is based off wealth, power and prestige. Divorce is very common,  most people remarry multiple times by the age of 40.

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The Malagasy diet consists of mainly rice. They also add some type of kabaka which is a protein dish such as meat, beans, or fish. Food is prepared in the kitchen, separated from the house for safety. It is then served with water and occasionally vegetables when affordable.

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High quality cotton, raffia, and silk textiles produced by indigenous artisans were the reason why African and European merchants were attracted to Madagascar. Outside of trade, textiles were essential to their social and ethnic identity. Some clothes were associated with supernatural powers. Main uses for the different textiles are tents, room dividers, and clothing.

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The average child attends school for nine years. 5 years are spent in primary school and four years in secondary school. There is also three years of senior secondary schooling. This plan was established in 2015 in order to set a long term goal for students.

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People of America do not typically where cloth over clothing like those from Madagascar. Americans do wear clothing similar to their "western clothing". Although, Americans wear the same type of clothing, those from Madagascar would be considered cheap or low-end products to most people.

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Malagasy and French are not commonly used in America. French is taught in may schools in the U.S. ,similar to what is taught in Madagascar. Both the United States and Madagascar use English even though it is more frequent in America.

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Since 2007, it is legal for men and women 18 years or older to legally marry with or without consent. That is the same for America, besides the state of Nebraska. The ceremony is held in a church in both countries. Divorce is very common in both countries. A difference is that people of Madagascar are typically involved in arranged marriages.

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The Malagasy diet seems to consist of the same few items while there is a wide variety of American dishes to choose from. Many people in Madagascar are not able to afford foods such as vegetables which lead them to be undernourished. Americans are typically able to afford common foods by walking to the nearest grocery store. Both countries prepare their meals the same way: frying, grilling, and boiling.

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Textiles are not a main component in American culture. Unlike Madagascar, it is much easier to access materials in stores and online which leads them to be less valuable. Malagasy people hang these clothes in their home. Likewise, Americans hang tapestries as decoration.

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American children typically spend at least 12 or more years in school depending on the choice of attending college. Although both countries offer long term schooling, America has more opportunities such as colleges and many classes. Similar to America, Madagascar splits the years of school into sections almost as a stepping stone.

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This picture is an example of two young girls wearing lambas over their western clothing.

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An example of a scripture in Malagasy.

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Women going to a wedding wearing their traditional lamba

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A vegetable stand

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An example of a tapestry that would be used in a household.

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Madagascar was exporting $300 million worth of apparel to the United States a year.
Although, this number has recently decreased, clothing has a big impact on the culture and the economy of the entire country.

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Although this chart is based off statistics taken in 2000, this demonstrates that Malagasy is the dominant language

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1 in 10 girls marry before the age of 15.
Although it is illegal now many young marriages were arranged and still are even though it is illegal

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47% of children under the age of five are suffering from chronic malnutrition.
Because food is unaffordable and not easily accessible, many children and adults are not getting the amount of nutrients they need to survive.

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"The phasing out of the old system has already cost Africa more than 250,000 jobs over the last few years, reports the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF), leaving more than a million family members without stable incomes."
Making these textiles brings thousands of job opportunities and when tampered with, the unemployment rate increases which also impacts the economy.

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https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Ethnic-groups

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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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https://www.madagarments.com/sourcing-in-madagascar/

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https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/child-marriage/madagascar/

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Culture of Madagascar - history, people, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social

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Culture of Madagascar - history, people, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social Ja-Ma

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https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2018/03/08/a-ten-year-program-to-combat-chronic-malnutrition-in-madagascar

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Food of Madagascar

Food in Daily Life. Rice is the staple of the Malagasy diet. It is usually accompanied by some form of kabaka (a protein dish such as fish, meat, chicken, or beans). In some parts of the island a side dish ( romazava ) made of green leafy vegetables in broth is common. Generally, side dishes serve to add flavor to the rice rather than provide nutrients. Most Malagasy entrees are prepared in one of four ways: fried, grilled, boiled in water, or cooked with coconut juice. A spicy condiment known as lasary in Malagasy and made of chili peppers, green mangos, or lemons can be added to enhance flavor. Food is generally prepared in a kitchen that is physically separated from the main house for fire safety. Meals are served in the house, on the veranda, or on mats placed on the ground outside the house. Lunch and dinner leftovers are warmed for breakfast the following morning. Breakfast consists of rice and a tea made of local herbs or leaves and sweetened with sugar. Some alternate breakfast foods include boiled manioc, maize porridge, or fried cakes made of rice flour. Water is the usual beverage served with meals. Rano ampango (water boiled in the rice cooking pot until rice is burnt) is sometimes served.

Ladies at the market that Ambatovy built

A drink made from fruit that ferments in the sun

waiting for the next customer

Bazar Be Market vegetables

Ducks and Chickens at Bazar Be (need to tie legs together, so they don't take off)

Food taboos ( fady ) tend to be passed down within family groups and along ethnic lines. Some fady apply to daily life and some are observed during special circumstances such as pregnancy and lactation. Fady indrazana , taboos related to ancestral lineage, link Malagasy to their ethnic groups. For example, it is fady for most Sakalava to eat pork or eel. For Antandroy, sea turtle and cows without horns are taboo. When a man and woman from different ethnic groups marry, it is common for a woman to observe both her and her husband's fady indrazana as well as the fady which apply to both ethnic groups during pregnancy and lactation.

Vegetables such as carrots, cauliflower, cabbage, potatoes, peppers, and zucchini are available year round. Fruit such as pineapples, coconuts, oranges, mangoes, bananas, apples, and leeche are subject to seasonal availability. Although improved transportation in recent years has increased the availability of such foods to isolated regions, they are generally unaffordable on a regular basis. Therefore, although a wide variety of foods is available, a significant portion of the population remains undernourished.

this heat is making me too tired to shop

Traditional Malagasy restaurants ( hotely ) offer a plate of rice with a scoop of one of several kinds of stews. The geographical location of the hotely is often an indicator of what is offered. For example, hotelys along the coast will offer fish more frequently than those in the highlands. Restaurants in most major urban centers serve European-style Malagasy, French, Chinese, and Italian cuisine. French-style baguettes, pasta, and other non-traditional Malagasy cuisine can be found in villages near urban centers.

From this...

Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. For ceremonial meals and special occasions, extra meat is added to stews. Depending on a family's financial ability, traditional ceremonies such as burials, reburials, circumcision, tomb building, first hair cutting, and the coming out of the house of a newborn often involve the sacrifice of at least one zebu, a local breed of hump-back cow. Many families will serve one of several local alcoholic beverages such as palm wine, grain alcohol, rum, or beer. Family and friends assemble and participate in some aspect of ceremonial preparations. A person or family's adherence to ceremonial protocol pays respect to one's ancestors. The ultimate show of prestige is the ability to provide sacrificial cattle for ceremonies. The number of cattle slaughtered indicates the level of prosperity and the intent of honoring ancestors. I've only witnessed one traditional ceremony and I had a hard time watching the slaughter of the zebu.

Catholics attempt to observe traditional practices and Muslims observe Ramadan.

No preservatives, so vegetables are very tasty!

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Food of Madagascar Food in Daily Life. Rice is the staple of the Malagasy diet. It is usually accompanied by some form of kabaka (a protein dish such as fish, meat, chicken, or beans). In some parts of the island a side dish ( romazava ) made of green leafy vegetables in broth is common.

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https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/april-2006/loss-textile-market-costs-african-jobs

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The Met's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History

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Kingdoms of Madagascar: Malagasy Textile Arts | Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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"Far from mere trade commodities, textiles were an essential aspect of Malagasy social and ethnic identity, and some types of cloth were imbued with supernatural powers."

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The literacy rate has dropped dramatically since 1990 and shows no signs of improving.

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Madagascar - Literacy - Historical Data Graphs per Year

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Definition of Literacy: This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age.

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Madagascar joined the Global Partnership in 2005 when development partners endorsed its first Education for All (EFA) Plan.