2013 Events: Season 2

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Private event - March 15th 2013

Private event - April 28th 2013

Madagascar: The Monarchy

History part 2

The Western World’s studies on the history of civilizations and culture are anthropological and archeological based researches. However, these researches often omit or tend to ignore the oral histories of certain civilizations and cultures that play an important role in understanding the people as well as their ancient traditions.

In the Malagasy culture, oral history and legends play a critical role in understanding the origins of our people and gives us a perspective on “Zanahary” (our Creator). The Malagasy people respect every tradition that has been passed down from their ancestors through many generations. Their belief in “Zanahary” was ever-present before colonization and evangelization in the Kingdom of Madagascar.

Besides the evident timeline that can be traced from the history of our monarchy, our history is also our beliefs, the relations that we have together as a people and our culture (influenced by the many nations that came on the Island). But before getting into these legends and oral histories that shaped our  Island-Nation, it is essential to understand how the island became the Kingdom of Madagascar.

The 18 tribes in Madagascar had their own kingdoms and once had conflicts between the people who wanted more land and those who fought to defend their land. These conflicts were essential to build our nation, like any other nation. Obviously, the tribes that had more numbers had power in Madagascar until another tribe would take over and that is how it all began.

The first kingdom was founded in the 16^th Century by the Sakalava tribe which was then known as the Kingdom of Menabe and took over almost half of the Island.

Soon after, the Kingdom of Imerina took over with more numbers and established a long-term monarchy until the “vazaha” (Europeans) took over.

Here is the timeline of the history of the Kingdom of Imerina:

1600s: The Hovas were known to have chased away the Vazimba in the Central region. Some Vazimbas came back to claim their land later on when the Merina tribe was established. The King of the Merina at the time (Andrianajaka) with his army fought against the Vazimbas and took over Analamanga (the hills on which Antananarivo was founded years later). Peace was still not present on the Island and so intertribal marriages were made by the Merinas to strengthen their alliances. Many misunderstandings occurred which led to ongoing conflicts with tribes up until the reign of Prince Ramboasalama known later on as King Andrianampoinimerina.

Andrianampoinimerina

1700s: The legendary Andrianampoinimerina founds the capital city of Antananarivo on Analamanga and tries to unify the Malagasy people. He was famous for this quote:

"The seas will be the only limit to my Kingdom"

...But did not accomplish his dream of taking full control of the full Kingdom of Menabe. However, he did sign a peace pact with Queen Boina from the Sakalava region to resolve their disputes over land. When king Andrianampoinimerina passed away, he also passed down an organized constitution in the Island of Madagascar, leaving his son Idama or Radama I in charge of his Kingdom.

1800s:  Radama I was very fond of the Europeans, in fact he was the first to sign treaties with the Europeans which permitted Europeans to come into the Island peacefully for the first time. He then gave himself the title as the first "King of Madagascar".

Also, the culture of the Merina dance "Dihy gasy" started to assimilate European characteristics during his reign. Characteristics such as red dance costumes for men inspired by Napoleon I's attire.  

Radama I also wore clothes inspired by his idol Napoleon I but of course, his attire had to look better and more European than the Malagasy dancers who wore red outfits but still kept the Malagasy hats and some Malagasy features to their outfits.Usually these Malagasy dancers would perform during celebratory events such as: arrival of foreign colonels, weddings, births etc.

Napoleon I

Radama I

1800s: Radama I's short life left his wife Ramavo OR Rabodonandrianampoinimerina (who is also his cousin) to become Queen of Madagascar. Her name was made famous and she was known as Ranavalona I and reigned for 30 years.

In those 30 years, as opposed to her husband's love for Europeans, Ranavalona I loathed the Europeans that were invading her Kingdom and decided to get rid of them and their evil beliefs in Christianity. She was very traditionalist and wanted authenticity in the Malagasy culture. She declared war against every French, English men (except Jean Laborde who helped her establish the first Malagsy industry) and religious missionaries on the Island, ordering her army to kill every Christian including the Malagasy people that were "brainwashed" by the European's evil beliefs (1845). It is due to her bloody massacres that most Malagasy people later on accepted Christianity and reverted from traditionalist beliefs (animism). Still, animism is still part of the Malagasy culture and beliefs and many on the Island still refuse to convert to Christianity for many reasons such as Ranavalona I's reasons (to keep the Malagasy culture authentic and to keep our ancestor's culture).

Ranavalona I

1800s: After her long reign, her son Radama II (also known as Rakoto) took over and decided to sign peace treaties with the Europeans and treaties which gave the French rights to have some lands in Madagascar. Furious, the Hovas of Madagascar declared a "coup d'état" during which Radama II was killed. His wife Rasoaherina took over and married prime minister, Rainilairivony.

Rainilairivony

Radama II and Rasoaherina

When Rasoaherina passed away, Radama II's second wife Ramona (also his cousin) took over and became known as Ranavalona II, marrying also prime minister Rainilairivony. 

Ranavalona II

Then, before she passed away, she gives her power to her niece who she names Ranavalona III.

Ranavalona III became the last Queen of Madagascar before Madagascar became a French protectorate. She signed contracts and made agreements with the French on land occupancies. Internationally recognized by the Zanzibar Convention (1890) as a French protectorate and not as an independent legitimate Kingdom, problems escalated with the reigning monarchy. Ranavalona III lost her power that same year when her palace (Rova palace) was bombarded by the French where she was forced to surrender to the French.

The French then colonized the Kingdom of Madagascar which led to the establishment of the "French Protectorate of Madagascar". 

Ranavalona III

Rova Palace 
 of Madagascar before its destruction
Above: French troops arriving in Madagascar 

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For more info on the period of the French Colony/Protectorate of Madagascar click here: [FRENCH ONLY]

...Madagascar, the movie? Brief HISTORY

Madagascar is not a deserted island full of wild animals (with" dead (ones)" people) as some have come to know with the DreamWorks production of the animated movie "Madagascar" (2005).

   Madagascar or The Republic of Madagascar is in fact the world's fourth largest island with a population of 22,599,098 people knitted together by one history and many cultures. To familiarize those of you who still cannot picture where Madagascar is in the African continent (as movies do tend to forget about those details) fear not because you won't need to look far on the map. Madagascar is actually a big island-nation located in the Indian Ocean separated from Africa by the Mozambique channel. 

   Decades ago, Madagascar was also separated from the legendary super continent "Gondwana". It is believed that during its attachment to the super continent,  Madagascar became a splendor in nature and has now become an oasis for modern scientists/biologists fascinated by its unique biodiversity. 

    However, not many people in the Western world in particular (excluding the fairly recent visits of American singer Katy Perry and actor Jim Carrey) seem to know much of the inhabitants of this tropical island or what makes the Malagasy culture as fascinating as the island's biodiversity. 

History: Part I

From its early history with the monarchy to its subjugation as a French colony (1896), Madagascar's history is but a saga to write in multiple volumes. Culturally rich and diverse with 18 ethnic groups* united by one language (Malagasy) and history, the Malagasy people have fought hard (like many other colonies) to mend together one nation and rise up to get a long deserved independence (on Sunday June 26th 1960). 

The victory of this independence on the 26th of June not only got rid of French rule but also distinguished Madagascar from other neighboring islands in terms of economics, language, culture and history.

Unlike its neighbors, Madagascar has its own language and was more than the result of an attempt of making two languages (French and unknown origins) comprehensible. Malagasy people are unique and the creole nation surrounding them were only the result of Malagasy migrants struggling to find their origins after being influenced by French, Indians and the Chinese, resulting in the creation of broken French.
So what makes Madagascar so special? Well to start with, Madagascar's history shaped its language to belong to the Austronesian family of languages. According to history, Madagascar was first inhabited by the "Vazimbas" which were believed to be the first inhabitants or aboriginals of the island, then by several polynesian and Indonesian women in 830 AD during the expansion of Indonesian trading networks.
Although the Vazimbas had their own form of speech, with new settlers coming on the island as early as the 4th Century such as the "Hova"s (people of Indonesian, Borneo and Malaysian origin), 7th Century Arab merchants, the Bantu tribe (South Africa) around the 10th century, the banishment of the Vazimbas from the inner lands and also the integration of some of these racial groups with the Vazimbas has certainly influenced the Malagasy language as well as the quasi-extinction of the aboriginals of the land. Of course having people of different origins scattered throughout the island brought in small conflicts over land, etc. But in general, all of the people of Madagascar after agreements over land separations (provinces) and established racial distinctions lived harmoniously resulting in the creation of a monarchy. From kings and queens of the highlands (central region) to the southern king and queens (Androy region) of Madagascar and other important tribes such as the Sakalava, Madagascar became quite the harmonious paradise before the arrival of the Europeans.

Madagascar was first discovered by Portuguese explorer Diego Diaz in the 16th Century and news reached countries such as England, Netherlands and France, bringing first the Englishmen to the island to "cohabit" with the Malagasy people. Not much is said by the original explorer of the land, Diego Diaz, because much attention has been driven on the cruelty of French colonization. However, it is known that this Portuguese explorer started the slave trade in Madagascar with inhabitants from the coastal region. Later on of course, the Englishmen came to the island because they also saw the benefit of slave trade. It is believed that the origins of African Americans from the state of Louisiana (United States) are Malagasy slaves that were traded by Englishmen from the island of Madagascar. Conversely, Frenchmen traded Malagasy slaves to "La Nouvelle France" in Canada. In fact, the first record of enslavement in Canada was of a Malagasy boy that was given a slave name "Olivier Le Jeune".

Furthermore, after the Europeans (Portuguese, English, Dutch, and French) tried repeatedly to invade the island instead of "cohabiting" with the people (like the pirates who lived in the coastal areas), they failed to repress the Malagasy nation because of the resistance and hostile nature of the Malagasy people (all tribes).
But of course, there is always that one time in history where a traitor leads to the demise of the whole kingdom. Although it is still unclear in history papers on the nature of treachery in the island, it led to England signing an agreement to leave the island which gave the French the occasion to take over. Then came of course the long and gruesome history of French colonization in 1896 when the monarchy was abolished.

Since its independence from France, Madagascar was then baptized as "Repoblikan'i Madagasikara" (the Republic of Madagascar).

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18 ethnic groups*:

Merina, Betsileo, Betsimisaraka, Sakalava,

Antaisaka, Antandroy, Mahafaly, Vezo, Bara, Antakarana,

Antemoro, Antaifasy,

Masikoro, Antambahoaka, Tsimihety, Tanala, Bezanozano

and the Sihanaka.

Get to know us!

© Ravinala dance group/Tarika Ravinala is the first authentic traditional dance group from Madagascar in Ontario. It is a relatively new group formed in 2012 ( with former dancers of "Kintana Gasy") that is based in Mississauga. The group travels far and wide to showcase Malagasy culture.
 With the unique diversity of the Malagasy culture, we invite you to travel the Island with us and explore the different cultural dances.
From the Highlands/Central region (Vakondrazana - Dihy gasy), to the North and the West (Salegy, Kawitry), to the East ( Basesa), to the southern sun (Kapitsy, Tsapiky, Minotsika) and to the traditional dance that unite us all (Afindrafindrao).
Discover the world's fourth-largest Island through our upbeat instruments, voices and interactive dancers!

Do you want to contact us?
Send us an e-mail at:

artists@ravinaladancegroup.com
OR
ravinaladancegroup@live.com