Madagascar
An island on its ownMadagascar is the oldest and fourth largest island in the world. It is
an island of tropical forests, extreme desserts, and unique geographical
features. A remarkable 80 percent of the flora and fauna of Madagascar
is endemic, meaning it is not found anywhere else on earth. This makes
Madagascar an important place to conserve ecologically and many
international organizations are working to protect Madagascar’s
vulnerable biodiversity.
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While much attention is focused on protecting Madagascar’s natural ecosystems, little attention is paid to the people who inhabit the large red island. Like the landscape they live on and the wildlife they live with, the people of Madagascar are both diverse and distinctive. Ethnically, Malagasy people are a mix of African, Asian, and Polynesian decent. The 18 tribes in Madagascar reflect these diverse ethnic backgrounds both in appearance and in language; each tribe has a distinct dialect of the Malagasy language. Madagascar has also been both a British and French colony, and the language reflects these colonial roots with many words adapted from both English and French. Only educated Malagasy speak French and only the most educated, or those who work in the tourist industry, also speak English.
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Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. According to the World Bank the majority of the population lives on less than US$1.50 per day and ¾ of the population lives below the poverty line. Lack of water, sanitation and hygiene is a serious health risk with only 15 percent of the urban population having access to sanitation facilities and a mere 22 percent of the rural population having access to any improved water sources. To add to this, failing school conditions due to lack of infrastructure and frequent cyclones, coupled with high rates of illiteracy, prevent many people from achieving a higher quality of life. With almost half of the population under the age of 15, access to better education and health care must be a priority in order for the Malagasy people to improve their living conditions and increase opportunities.
Ankarana
The Southern Ankarana tsingy.
The Ankarana region is located in Northwest Madagascar, 150 km south of the northern city of Antsiranana/Diego Suarez. The region is best known for the Ankarana Special Reserve, a protected area famous for its scenic limestone formations known as tsingy. The word “Ankarana” refers to these pinnacle limestone formations that are locally called harana. Beneath the tsingy, or harana, lies a network of caves where the Antakarana people hid from the Merina tribes during the tribal wars of the 18th century. The caves are also a sacred burial site for Antakarana royalty.
The Antsaravibe commune in the Southern Ankarana is a rural area with a population of approximately 15,000 people. It is a diverse commune both culturally and geographically. The Ankarana tsingy extend into the commune from the Reserve to the north, mangrove swamps and fishing communities lie to the west, and the Mahavavy River cuts through the commune as one of the major water ways. Businesses such the Iharana eco-lodge catering to upscale, adventurous clients and the large shrimp company, LGA, have also established themselves in the Antsaravibe commune.
The traditional dialect of Malagasy spoken in the Ankarana Region is Sakalava. However, the Ankarana region has become a hotspot of immigration, attracting many people from other tribes in Madagascar, especially from the Southwest. Immigration is partly due to SACOM, a sugar plantation that operated in the 1990s in the town of Ampotsehy. However, SACOM shut down in 2003, leaving many people jobless.
The Antsaravibe commune in the Southern Ankarana is a rural area with a population of approximately 15,000 people. It is a diverse commune both culturally and geographically. The Ankarana tsingy extend into the commune from the Reserve to the north, mangrove swamps and fishing communities lie to the west, and the Mahavavy River cuts through the commune as one of the major water ways. Businesses such the Iharana eco-lodge catering to upscale, adventurous clients and the large shrimp company, LGA, have also established themselves in the Antsaravibe commune.
The traditional dialect of Malagasy spoken in the Ankarana Region is Sakalava. However, the Ankarana region has become a hotspot of immigration, attracting many people from other tribes in Madagascar, especially from the Southwest. Immigration is partly due to SACOM, a sugar plantation that operated in the 1990s in the town of Ampotsehy. However, SACOM shut down in 2003, leaving many people jobless.
Ecotourism increased in the Antsaravibe area around 2005 as adventurous tourists passed through on their way to the remote western entrance of Ankarana. Unfortunately, despite two functioning lodges that are now in the commune, the local community has seen little benefit from the increase in tourism. The majority of people in the Southern Ankarana are subsistence farmers with little education or income. Many people sell cash crops or commodities in the nearby city of Ambilobe but income from this is minimal at best. As a result many children remain uneducated and many families are unable to buy basic necessities.Atsika's work helps the local community benefit from tourism in the area by training community members about business and environmental conservation.
|  Exploring the Ankarana tsingy |
Fady, Religion, and the Ancestors
The Malagasy culture is governed by a set of fady, or cultural taboos, known to each region. As a vahaza (foreigner), these fady can seem puzzling and often unfounded, but to the Malagasy fady are not something to be questioned. Most fady are rooted in respect for the ancestors who are central to Malagasy culture. Although Malagasy are Protestant, Catholic, and Muslim, all are linked by the razana, i.e. the ancestors. In the Ankarana region people consider the tsingy and its caves to be sacred given that it is the burial place of certain ancestors. Therefore a strict system fady are connected with the caves and tsingy.
The Malagasy culture is governed by a set of fady, or cultural taboos, known to each region. As a vahaza (foreigner), these fady can seem puzzling and often unfounded, but to the Malagasy fady are not something to be questioned. Most fady are rooted in respect for the ancestors who are central to Malagasy culture. Although Malagasy are Protestant, Catholic, and Muslim, all are linked by the razana, i.e. the ancestors. In the Ankarana region people consider the tsingy and its caves to be sacred given that it is the burial place of certain ancestors. Therefore a strict system fady are connected with the caves and tsingy.
 Students peek out a window at thier school | Education
Education in the Anstaravibe commune is incredibly underfunded. Schools lack learning materials and overcrowding of classes is a problem in all schools. Many schools face crumbling structures due to cyclones or other acts of nature but lack the funds to fix school buildings. When it rains, many classrooms get rained on. In addition to problems of infrastructure, 20 percent of students may be absent due to illness or familial work on any given day. Many children do not make it past primary school for various reasons, leaving the vast majority of the commune undereducated. Fortunately many people still value education and would like to see their children through school when possible. FRAMs, the parent-teacher associations of the region, often put their own money and time into fixing up schools. School fees run between US$ 10-20 per year. |