Cultures & Traditions
The culture of Madagascar reflects the origins of the Malagasy people in Southeast Asia and East Africa. How do they dress. What do they play. Let's explore Madagascar's unique masterpiece of art together in this chapter.
Lamba
A lamba is the traditional garment worn by those who live in Madagascar. The textile is a simple rectangular cloth weaved in various pattern and is used to wrap around the body in many way.
​
Lamba made from different material are used for different purposes and has it own specific name.
Lamba Akotifahana
Lamba Akotifahana
This silk-woven lamba are designed with geometric patterns. It is worn only in some ceremonies and special occasions.
Lambahoany
Lambahoany
This is the most common lamba worn in daily life. It was made of cotton and featured a large image depicting a pastoral scene from daily life. Good proverb might be printed too.
Lambamena
Lambamena
In Madagascar, hand textiles is symbols of authority, wealth, status and identity. This kind of lamba is placed around the deceased in his or her funeral to ensure their social existence in the next life.
Hainteny
Hainteny is a traditional form of Malagasy oral literature and poetry, involving heavy use of metaphor.
Hainteny often incorporates ohabolana (proverbs) and kabary (public discourse).
Both of these two oral traditions remain integral parts of Malagasy daily life, where they are pronounced at such events as weddings, funerals, births and famadihana (a funerary tradition) and constitute an essential component of hiragasy performances.
They may also include angano (folktales and fables), tantara (historical narratives) or ankamantatra (riddles).
Here are some examples of ohabolana.
Ny tsiny toy ny rivotra: mikasika ny tena, fa tsy hita tarehy.
—Blame is like the wind: felt but not seen.
Aza asesiky ny fitia tanteraka, ka tsy mahalala ny ranonorana ho avy.
—Don't be so much in love that you can't tell when the rain is coming.
Ny voky tsy mahaleo ny tsaroana.
—A good belly-full doesn't equal a kind remembrance.
Traditional Music
Malagasy music is highly melodic and distinguishes itself from many traditions of mainland Africa by the predominance of pitch-instrument relative to percussion instruments.
Valiha is a national instrument of Madagascar. It consists of 21-24 strings stretched along a bamboo tube that act as a resonator.
Click here to listen to a traditional lullaby played on valiha.
By Rob Hooft - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11750486
Sodina is a woodwind instrument commonly played in Malagasy music. Similar in structure and sound to a flute, the sodina is usually made out of bamboo, lightwood, plastic, or reed and varies in size depending upon the region it is being played in.
Click here to listen to a traditional lullaby played on sodina.
Contemporary music comprises modern-day compositions that have their roots in traditional musical styles and have been created for entertainment purposes.
​
Eusèbe Jaojoby is one of the most talented and famous singer of 'salegy' style of music. Salegy is a music genre originated as a Sub-Saharan African folk music style in the northwestern coastal areas of Madagascar
Contemporary Music
Hira Gasy
The hiragasy is a musical tradition in Madagascar and particularly among the Merina ethnic group of the Highland regions around the capital of Antananarivo. The hiragasy is a day-long spectacle of music, dance, and kabary oratory performed by a troupe (typically related by blood or marriage and of rural origin) or as a competition between two troupes.
Tourist Attractions
Natural Wonders
Charming Architectures
Cultures & Traditions
Tropical Cuisines