April 27, 1959. Madagascar was an important transoceanic trading hub connecting ports of the Indian Ocean in the early centuries following human settlement. The first settlers encountered Madagascar's abundance of megafauna,[37] including 17 species of giant lemurs, the large flightless elephant birds (including possibly the largest bird to ever exist, Aepyornis maximus), giant fossa, and the Malagasy hippopotamus, which have since become extinct because of hunting and habitat destruction. Madagascar is located in the southwestern Indian Ocean and is separated from the African coast by the 250-mile- (400-km-) wide Mozambique Channel. [46] The regions are further subdivided into 119 districts, 1,579 communes, and 17,485 fokontany. Getty Images Pro-independence activists arrested. [27] The name "Malay island" was later rendered in Latin as Malichu, an abbreviated form of Malai Insula, in the medieval Hereford Mappa Mundi as the name of Madagascar. This would have resulted from 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco Polo confusing the two locations in his memoirs, in which he mentions the land of Madageiscar to the south of Socotra. [96] Scouting is represented in Madagascar by its own local federation of three scouting clubs. An island not to miss: to the 18th century. [45] By comparison, there has been no significant emigration of Malagasy peoples. Runion, officially Department of Runion, French Dpartement de la Runion, island of the Mascarene Islands that is a French overseas dpartement and overseas rgion. [40] A wave of Bantu-speaking migrants from southeastern Africa arrived around 1000CE. On March 26, 1960 France agreed to Madagascar becoming fully independent. However, the colonial period was accompanied by movements fighting for independence: the Menalamba, the Vy Vato Sakelika, the Democratic Movement for Malagasy Renovation (MDRM). [68] Slavery was abolished in 1896 and approximately 500,000 slaves were freed; many remained in their former masters' homes as servants[69] or as sharecroppers; in many parts of the island strong discriminatory views against slave descendants are still held today. Residents of Madagascar could accuse one another of various crimes, including theft, Christianity and especially witchcraft, for which the ordeal of tangena was routinely obligatory. Enjoy the Famous Daily. [105] The family Didiereaceae, composed of four genera and 11 species, is limited to the spiny forests of southwestern Madagascar. A Brief History of the African Country of Liberia. Most Hindus in Madagascar speak Gujarati or Hindi at home, reflecting the faiths concentration among those of Indian ancestry. [96], The western and southern sides, which lie in the rain shadow of the central highlands, are home to dry deciduous forests, spiny forests, and deserts and xeric shrublands. The western third of the island consists entirely of deposits of sedimentary rock, giving rise to soils of medium to low fertility. First, it separated from Africa about 160 Mya (million years ago), then from the Seychelles and India 66-90 Mya. Author of, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin, Madison. Legislative elections held in May 2019 gave the president's party a majority in the National Assembly, while communal elections in November 2019, and senatorial elections in December 2020, further consolidated the ruling party's hold, resulting in majorities in both houses of Parliament. [220], The veneration of ancestors has led to the widespread tradition of tomb building, as well as the highlands practice of the famadihana, whereby a deceased family member's remains are exhumed and re-wrapped in fresh silk shrouds, before being replaced in the tomb. [55], Radama's successor, Queen Ranavalona I (182861), 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. [96] The number of Europeans has declined since independence, reduced from 68,430 in 1958[80] to 17,000 three decades later. [100], Madagascar's varied fauna and flora are endangered by human activity. [169] Starting in 2015, under the direction of and with assistance from the UN, the World Food Programme started the Madagascar Country Programme with the two main goals of long-term development and reconstruction efforts, and addressing the food insecurity issues in the southern regions of Madagascar. [123] A 2023 study published in Nature Communications found that 120 of the 219 mammal species only found on Madagascar are threatened with extinction. [145], Madagascar is a semi-presidential representative democratic multi-party republic, wherein the popularly elected president is the head of state and selects a prime minister, who recommends candidates to the president to form his cabinet of ministers. Ports at Mahajanga and Antsiranana are significantly less used because of their remoteness. Conversely, misfortunes are often attributed to ancestors whose memory or wishes have been neglected. [184], Madagascar's natural resources include a variety of agricultural and mineral products. [241] Three Horses Beer is the most popular beer on the island[262] and is considered emblematic of Madagascar. Chinese, Indian and Comoran minorities are present in Madagascar, as well as a small European (primarily French) populace. [240], The Southeast Asian cultural influence is also evident in Malagasy cuisine, in which rice is consumed at every meal, typically accompanied by one of a variety of flavorful vegetable or meat dishes. [141] Local timber merchants are harvesting scarce species of rosewood trees from protected rainforests within Marojejy National Park and exporting the wood to China for the production of luxury furniture and musical instruments. Contacts. [45], As a result of increased educational access, enrollment rates more than doubled between 1996 and 2006. [77] During the Second World War, the island was the site of the Battle of Madagascar between the Vichy French and an Allied expeditionary force. [96] Several major projects are underway in the mining, oil and gas sectors that are anticipated to give a significant boost to the Malagasy economy. Approximately 30% of the districts are able to access the nations' several private telecommunications networks via mobile telephones or land lines. To the south of Farafangana the coast becomes rocky, and in the southeast there occur many little bays. [247] Madagascar also has a growing culture of classical music fostered through youth academies, organizations and orchestras that promote youth involvement in classical music. [100] In the absence of monkeys and other competitors, these primates have adapted to a wide range of habitats and diversified into numerous species. [97] The island supplies 80% of the world's natural vanilla. [135] Accusations of media censorship have risen due to the alleged restrictions on the coverage of government opposition. The western zone is between 60 and 125 miles (100 and 200 km) wide. [174] During 201115, the average growth rate was 2.6% but was expected to have reached 4.1% in 2016, due to public works programs and a growth of the service sector. The Malagasy Republic, proclaimed on October 14, 1958, became an autonomous state within the French Community. The complexity of Malagasy meals can range from the simple, traditional preparations introduced by the earliest settlers, to the refined festival dishes prepared for the island's 19th-century monarchs. [33] It is proposed that Ma'anyan people were brought as laborers and slaves by Javanese and Malays in their trading fleets to Madagascar. In either case, these dates make Madagascar one of the latest major landmasses on Earth to be settled by humans, predating the settlement of Iceland and New Zealand. Madagascar became indepedent from France on June 26, 1960. The main sources of Madagascar's imports include China,[194] France, Iran, Mauritius and Hong Kong. The High Constitutional Court observed in its decision that, in the absence of a language law, French still had the character of an official language.[214]. [224] The government provides at least one basic health center per commune. During the post-colonial First Republic, a continued reliance on French nationals as teachers, and French as the language of instruction, displeased those desiring a complete separation from the former colonial power. To the east it descends in a sharp fault, by vertical steps of 1,000 to 2,000 feet (300 to 600 metres). [156] Access to the internet has grown dramatically over the past decade, with an estimated 352,000 residents of Madagascar accessing the internet from home or in one of the nation's many internet cafs in December 2011.[149]. Red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, and white for purity. This answer is: Study guides. [19] Other groups continued to settle on Madagascar over time, each one making lasting contributions to Malagasy cultural life. [46] Recent DNA research revealed that the genetic makeup of the average Malagasy person constitutes an approximately equal blend of Southeast Asian, Oceanian and East African genes,[206][207][208] although the genetics of some communities show a predominance of Southeast Asian or East African origins or some Arab, Indian, or European ancestry.[209]. [137] Numerous giant lemur species vanished with the arrival of human settlers to the island, while others became extinct over the course of the centuries as a growing human population put greater pressures on lemur habitats and, among some populations, increased the rate of lemur hunting for food. [148] Budget cuts since 2009 have severely impacted the national police force, producing a steep increase in criminal activity in recent years. On June 26, 1960 Madagascar became an independent country and Philibert Tsiranana became its first president. Agriculture (including the growing of raffia), mining, fishing and forestry are mainstays of the economy. [242][243] An epic poem exemplifying these traditions, the Ibonia, has been handed down over the centuries in several different forms across the island, and offers insight into the diverse mythologies and beliefs of traditional Malagasy communities. [253], Western recreational activities were introduced to Madagascar over the past two centuries. [65] France annexed Madagascar in 1896 and declared the island a colony the following year, dissolving the Merina monarchy and sending the royal family into exile on Runion Island and to Algeria. [138] A July 2012 assessment found that the exploitation of natural resources since 2009 has had dire consequences for the island's wildlife: 90percent of lemur species were found to be threatened with extinction, the highest proportion of any mammalian group. [215] A fourth Constitution, adopted in 2010 following a referendum,[1] recognised only Malagasy and French. Ankaratra is a major watershed divide separating three main river basins. [84] In March 2009, Rajoelina was declared by the Supreme Court as the President of the High Transitional Authority, an interim governing body responsible for moving the country toward presidential elections. In 2010, Madagascar had an average of three hospital beds per 10,000 people and a total of 3,150 doctors, 5,661 nurses, 385 community health workers, 175 pharmacists, and 57 dentists for a population of 22million. [189], Madagascar has one of the world's largest reserves of ilmenite (titanium ore), as well as important reserves of chromite, coal, iron, cobalt, copper and nickel. To the south the two steep gradients meet and form the Mahafaly and the Androy plateaus, which overhang the sea in precipitous cliffs. [139], In 2003, Ravalomanana announced the Durban Vision, an initiative to more than triple the island's protected natural areas to over 60,000km2 (23,000sqmi) or 10percent of Madagascar's land surface. The Tsaratanana region in the north is separated from the rest of the plateau by the Tsaratanana Massif, whose summit, Maromokotro, reaches 9,436 feet (2,876 metres) and is the highest point on the island. [45] Peoples along the east and southeastern coasts often have a roughly equal blend of Austronesian and Bantu ancestry; coastal peoples also usually show the largest genetic influence from the centuries of Arab, Somali, Gujarati, and Tamil traders and merchants of the area, compared to the inland highlander peoples. The LMS was invited by King Radama I to expand its schools throughout Imerina to teach basic literacy and numeracy to aristocratic children. Copy. There are many lakes of volcanic origin on the island, such as Lake Itasy. It received 84 seats and the supporters of former president Ravalomana got only 16 seats of 151 seats of the National Assembly. The gneiss decomposes into red murrum, laterite, and deeper and more fertile red earths, giving Madagascar its colloquial name the Great Red Island. The steep eastern face of the plateau is drained by numerous short, torrential rivers, such as the Mandrare, the Mananara, the Faraony, the Ivondro, and the Maningory, which discharge either into the coastal lagoons or directly into the sea over waterfalls and rapids. Those aged 65 and older form 3 percent of the total population. The schools were closed by Ranavalona I in 1835,[230] but reopened and expanded in the decades after her death. However, in 2009 fewer than a third of all communes had access to the services of these security forces, with most lacking local-level headquarters for either corps. General Gilles Andriamahazo ruled after Ratsimandrava for four months before being replaced by another military appointee: Vice Admiral Didier Ratsiraka, who ushered in the Socialist-Marxist Second Republic that ran under his tenure from 1975 to 1993. Madagascar's other sources of growth are tourism, agriculture and the extractive industries. The "pacification" carried out by the French administration lasted more than fifteen years, in response to the rural guerrillas scattered throughout the country. How did Madagascar, an island country, become independent from France? Background Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896, but regained its independence in 1960. [131] By the 16th century, the central highlands had been largely cleared of their original forests. National GDP grew at an average rate of 7percent per year under his administration. [98] In February 2022, Cyclone Batsirai killed at least 10 people weeks after Cyclone Ana killed 55 and displaced 130,000 people on the island. FAST FACTS OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Madagascar FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Semi-presidential republic CAPITAL: Antananarivo POPULATION: 25,570,895 OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Malagasy, French MONEY: Ariary. [248] Embroidery and drawn thread work are done by hand to produce clothing, as well as tablecloths and other home textiles for sale in local crafts markets. [244] This tradition was continued in the 20th century by such artists as Jean-Joseph Rabearivelo, who is considered Africa's first modern poet,[245] and Elie Rajaonarison, an exemplar of the new wave of Malagasy poetry. Early period Malagasy ancestry reflects a blend of Southeast Asian, Oceanian and Bantu (Southeast African) roots. Also known as: Great Red Island, Isle of Saint Lawrence, Madagasikara, Malagasy Republic, Rpublique de Madagascar, Repoblikani Madagasikara, Republic of Madagascar, Professor of Geography, University of Paris VII, 194877. [183] The main economic resources of Madagascar are tourism, textiles, agriculture, and mining. [196] Since 2016, 100.4 million has been paid to the Republic of Madagascar through this project. [255] School athletics programs typically include soccer, track and field, judo, boxing, women's basketball and women's tennis. The coastline is straight, bordered by small dunes and fringed with mangroves. [235] Malagasy people traditionally consult Mpanandro ("Makers of the Days") to identify the most auspicious days for important events such as weddings or famadihana, according to a traditional astrological system introduced by Arabs. [59] Over the course of Rainilaiarivony's 31-year tenure as prime minister, numerous policies were adopted to modernize and consolidate the power of the central government. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The storm killed 172 people, left 214,260 homeless[97] and caused more than US$250million in damage. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana resulted in the separation of East Gondwana (comprising Madagascar, Antarctica, Australia and the Indian subcontinent) and West Gondwana (AfricaSouth America) during the Jurassic period, around 185million years ago. All 651 species of terrestrial snail are endemic, as are a majority of the island's butterflies, scarab beetles, lacewings, spiders, and dragonflies. Several colonization and conversion missions were ordered by King Joo III and by the Viceroy of India, including one in 1553 by Baltazar Lobo de Sousa. In addition, Madagascar is among the five countries where access to water is the most difficult for the population. On 26 June 1960 Madagascar became an independent country and Philibert Tsiranana became its first president. Independence First Republic (1960-1972) Tsiranana's rule represented continuation, with French settlers (or colons) still in positions of power. [132] Madagascar had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.63/10, ranking it 119th globally out of 172 countries. Having developed in isolation, the island nation is famed for its unique wildlife.. Succeeding his mother, Radama II (186163) attempted to relax the queen's stringent policies, but was overthrown two years later by Prime Minister Rainivoninahitriniony (18521865) and an alliance of Andriana (noble) and Hova (commoner) courtiers, who sought to end the absolute power of the monarch. Poverty affects 92% of the population in 2017. Madagascar consists of three parallel longitudinal zonesthe central plateau, the coastal strip in the east, and the zone of low plateaus and plains in the west. 1 USD equals 45.511 Mauritian rupee Head Of State: President: Prithvirajsing Roopun See all facts & stats Mauritius Mauritius, island country in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa. Madagascar's poor infrastructure also negatively affects its economy. It is a narrow alluvial plain that terminates in a low coastline bordered with lagoons linked together by the Pangalanes (Ampangalana) Canal, which is more than 370 miles (600 km) long. In 2021, the population of Madagascar was estimated at 29million, up from 2.2million in 1900 heir population in 2100 is expected to be 100 million people. The plastic arts are also widespread throughout the island. [121], Like its flora, Madagascar's fauna is diverse and exhibits a high rate of endemism. A tale of a botanical mystery, colonialism, and savvy marketing. 5 November 2018 A chronology of key events 1880s-1905 - Colonial France consolidates its hold over Madagascar in the face of local resistance. Madagascar sent its first competitors to the Olympic Games in 1964, and has also competed in the African Games. Madagascar is also a chaotic place to do business, as an article in The Economist's 1843 . [39], Arab traders first reached the island between the 7th and 9th centuries. The island's elephant birds, a family of endemic giant ratites, became extinct in the 17th century or earlier, most probably because of human hunting of adult birds and poaching of their large eggs for food. The split between Africa and Madagascar was part of Emigration in the late 20th century has reduced these minority populations, occasionally in abrupt waves, such as the exodus of Comorans in 1976, following anti-Comoran riots in Mahajanga. [163][164] The armed forces are under the direction of the Minister of Defense and have remained largely neutral during times of political crisis, as during the protracted standoff between incumbent Ratsiraka and challenger Marc Ravalomanana in the disputed 2001 presidential elections, when the military refused to intervene in favor of either candidate. The written history of Madagascar began with the Arabs, who established trading posts along the northwest coast by at least the 10th century and introduced Islam, the Arabic script (used to transcribe the Malagasy language in a form of writing known as sorabe), Arab astrology, and other cultural elements. [165] Fifty-six percent of Madagascar's power is provided by hydroelectric power plants, with the remaining 44% provided by diesel engine generators. [201] In Madagascar, 11% of the rural population has access to power.[196][202]. [156] Religious, ethnic and sexual minorities are protected under the law. Despite the training and leadership provided by British military advisers, the Malagasy army was unable to withstand French weaponry and was forced to surrender following an attack on the royal palace at Antananarivo. in June 2008 at the Bronx Zoo in New York. [238] Reflecting a widespread veneration of the ancestors, tombs are culturally significant in many regions and tend to be built of more durable material, typically stone, and display more elaborate decoration than the houses of the living. Ratsiraka was then voted back into power on a platform of decentralization and economic reforms for a second term which lasted from 1996 to 2001. How was the referendum to become a self-governing country received? [29] An 1882 edition of the British newspaper The Graphic referred to "Malagascar" as the name of the island, stating that it is etymologically a word of Malay origin, and may be related to the name of Malacca.
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