One country, eighteen ethnic groups and a wide assortment of strange, cosmopolitan customs, Madagascar never ceases to amaze us with the sometimes bizarre, if not extravagant rituals its people have inherited from their forebears from all horizons and still practice today.
In the 21st century, many Malagasy still embrace « fombas », Malagasy traditions. For any event, their main concerns revolve around « Fihavanana » (the social bond). On festive occasions, whether important or not, they communicate through « kabary », speeches and palavers in which the words to be uttered are carefully chosen.
Ancient rituals still practiced today
According to historians, Madagascar’s population is the result of the intermingling of many peoples, including immigrants from Indonesia, Malaysia, Africa, Arab countries and European colonialists. This is why thousands of traditional rites can be found in this vast, continent-sized country.
Le ala volon-jaza
In the tribes of the Madagascan highlands, it is customary to perform the « ala volon-jaza » on a baby who has reached the third month of life. This is the newborn’s first haircut. This family ceremony is celebrated with a special party. It brings together the entire extended family. The person in charge of cutting the hair is not just anyone. She or he is carefully chosen by the mother of the family.
She must be a healthy person with a beautiful head of hair. One of the prerequisites for cutting a baby’s hair is that the mother or father is not an orphan. According to belief, the baby will inherit these qualities. The ceremony concludes with a meal of saonjo, rice and honey, seasoned with the recently cut fine down.
Sakalava fombas
The Sakalava (an ethnic group from south-east Madagascar) also have uncompromising « fombas « . In order to enjoy authority over his unborn child, the future father of a family must offer a red rooster to his in-laws before his wife’s pregnancy reaches six months. After giving birth, he is obliged to hand over a zebu to his wife’s parents. Otherwise, the newborn child will be the indivisible property of the mother and her family. In the event of death, there is no question of burying the child in the sire’s family grave.
The fihavanana
For any self-respecting Malagasy, « Fihavanana » is the social bond that unites the whole of society. It’s vital to preserve it. Everyone joins hands for any event that arises. Birth or illness? Project success or bereavement? Joys and sorrows must be shared by family, friends and acquaintances.
It’s customary to inform the extended family, the neighborhood and the whole neighborhood about anything. Otherwise, the community considers that collective solidarity is being flouted. Collective affection or social cohesion? Malagasy people have an innate sense of mutual aid and share everything.
The rule that governs social life in Madagascar is: « Aleo very tsikakalam-bola toy izay very tsikalakalam-pihavanana », which literally means « it’s better to be deprived of everything, goods and money, than to lose fihavanana ».
Main photo credit: Wikimedia – Lemurbaby