“Without the forest, there will be no more water, without water, there will be no more rice” - Malagasy Proverb
(Madagascar flag (1958-Present))
Madagascar is an island located off the southern east coast of Africa.
(Map of where Madagascar is located)
Its capital is Antananarivo. Antananarivo is also its largest city. The official languages are Malagasy and French. The country is 226,597 square miles. Madagascar is 90% African, 9% Asian and 1% European. 50% of Madagascar practice traditional African religion, 48% practice Christianity, 1% practice Islam and 1% practice Hinduism. The total population is 22,434,363. The climate is tropical in Madagascar. Madagascar is unitary semi presidential republic.
(Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar)
Madagascar cuisine consists of rice, laoka, sweet potato, yams, taro root, cassava, millet and maize.
(Malagasy cuisine)
Literature as expressed in the forms of hainteny (poetry), kabary (public discourse) and ohabolana (proverbs) are popular in Madagascar.
(Malagasy people performing kabary)
The most popular sport in Madagascar is Moraingy, a type of hand to hand combat.
(A Moraingy bout)
Madagascar was 1st inhabited in 2000 BC.
(Ancient structures in Madagascar)
The Bantu people arrived in 1000 AD.
(A Bantu woman)
Also around this time the Arabs set up trade posts in Madagascar. In 1500 the Portuguese came to Madagascar.
(A map of a Portuguese fort in Madagascar)
By 1600 irrigated paddy fields were developed in the central highland Betsileo Kingdom. In the 17th century the French established trading posts. In 1774 Madagascar gained prominence among pirates and European traders, particularly those involved in the trans Atlantic slave trade.
(A drawing of slavery in Madagascar)
In 1793 King Andrianampoinimerina became the ruler of Madagascar.
(King Andrianampoinimerina)
In 1810 King Radama I became ruler of Madagascar. Radama concluded a treaty in 1817 with the British governor of Mauritius to abolish the lucrative slave trade in return for British military and financial assistance.
(King Radama I)
In 1818 missionaries from England arrived in Madagascar. In 1828 Queen Ranavalona I became ruler of Madagascar. She responded to increasing political and cultural encroachment on the part of Britain and France by issuing a royal edict prohibiting the practice of Christianity in Madagascar and pressuring most foreigners to leave the territory.
(Queen Ranavalona I)
Between 1828 and 1861 the tangena ordeal caused about 3,000 deaths annually. In 1852 Prime Minister Rainivoninahitriniony became ruler of Madagascar.
(Prime Minister Rainivoninahitriniony)
In 1869 Christianity was declared the official religion of Madagascar. Legal codes were reformed on the basis of British common law and three European style courts were established in the capital city.
(Madagascar flag (1787-1885))
In 1883 France invaded France to gain control of the island from Great Britain. In 1890 the British accepted the full formal imposition of a French protectorate on the island, but French authority was not acknowledged by the government of Madagascar. To force capitulation, the French bombarded and occupied the harbor of Toamasina on the east coast, and Mahajanga on the west coast. In 1895 the French officially colonized Madagascar.
(Madagascar flag (1896-1958))
In 1896 slavery was abolished in Madagascar. During World War I Malagasy troops fought for France. During World War II the island was the site of the Battle of Madagascar between the Vichy government and the British. In 1947 the Malagasy uprising occurred.
(A Malagasy freedom fighter)
The uprising led the French to establish reformed institutions in 1956. On June 26th, 1960 Madagascar gained its independence.
(Madagascar flag (1958-Present))
The first president was Philibert Tsiranana.
(Philibert Tsiranana)
In 1972 Gabriel Ramanantsoa, a major general in the army, was appointed interim president and prime minister. He stepped down in 1975.
(Gabriel Ramanantsoa)
Colonel Richard Ratsimandrava, appointed to succeed him, was assassinated six days into his tenure. Vice Admiral Didier Ratsiraka became the leader of Madagascar the same year.
(Didier Ratsiraka)
In 1979 the country went bankrupt. In 1991 presidential guards opened fire on unarmed protesters during a rally.
(Presidential guards firing on protesters)
In 1993 Albert Zafy became president.
(Albert Zafy)
In 2001 Marc Ravalomanana became president. In 2009 Andry Rajoelina became president. In 2013 Hery Rajaonarimampianina became president.
(Hery Rajaonarimampianina)
Today marks the 56th anniversary of Madagascar’s independence and we would like to say happy independence day Madagascar.
Videos of Madagascar Independence
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DQ3LC7iJsY “Madagascar Independence Celebrations AKA Madagascar Independence Party (1960)”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxU-S9Mrtxg “52nd Madagascar independance day -Lebanon”
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