Madagascar+Culture

Culture
 * =History = || =Geography = || =Culture = || =Economics = || =Politics = || =ClassActivities = || =Resources = ||



A Malagasy family in front of their home. Madagascar is home to over 20 ethnic groups, making it a very diverse and interesting country. There is debate over who first settled in Madagascar but it is believed that Indonesians and a mix of Indonesians and African where the earliest arrivals on the island. An interesting set of cultures that are drawn from Southeast Asia, India, Africa, and the Middle East are produced from the mixed origins of the people of Madagascar, known as the Malagasy. The Malagasy language is very similar to the dialect in Borneo,making the Indonesian component to the culture very evident. Other Indonesian elements of the culture include belief systems as well as the rice-based diet.



A Malagasy meal consisting of rice, beef, and tropical fruits.

 Rice is the most popular food in Madagascar and most Malagasy eat it at every meal. Beef from the zebu cattle is also widely eaten, yet very expensive. Other foods include seafood, which is common and cheap, as well as tropical fruits, such as pineapple, lychees, mangoes, and bananas which are mostly found year-round.



 Malagasy people at a funeral. Around 50% of the Malagasy practice traditional religions, with 41% practicing Christianity. However, they hold the dead in high regard and give the afterlife as much importance as the present. Elaborate rituals at funerals are carried out by mourners, if it is deemed that the dead are displeased, further rituals are carried out to appease them. The most famous ritual is famadihana, or turning of the bones. During this ritual the dead are exhumed, entertained, talked to and reburied with gifts and new shrouds.



One room school in Madagascar.

Education in Madagascar is not much different than in other countries. Education is compulsory for children ages six to fourteen. The current education system provides primary education for 5 years and secondary education for seven years. The expansion of the education system has had a great positive impact on the Malagasy, particularly in literacy. However, similar to other countries, school resources and funding vary from region to region.

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Click to play traditional Malagasy music.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Music is an important element to Malagsy culture. Most contemporary and traditional music revolves around dance rhythms with influences from Indonesia and the African mainland. These rhythms are accompanied by the flute, whistle, and valiha. Kabary, entertainment open to the general public, includes music, dancing and story telling and is held regularly in Tana on most Sunday afternoons.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Information from: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">[]

**<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">© 2012 Amanda Richter - Revised April 25th, 2012 ** **<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Email: amandarichter@ilstu.edu ** **<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Ph: 309-638-2749 **