Madagascar/Madagasikara

[♥Dany♥]

What is the origin of the name of the country?
The Arabs say that it results of "mata qash " = the distant country. It is to verify. I do not speak Arabic I can not say if it is true or not. According to the historians the traveler Marco Polo would have mentioned the island of Madagascar in his narratives. Others say that he confused with Mogadishu (in Somalia). But the name stayed. Although Portuguese and French called it Saint Laurent in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Even the Natives don't know what does mean Madagasikara. Shortly nicknamed :
- "Gasikara" when we are in the island,
- "Tany Be" (= great land) when we are in the little islands of Nosy Be or Nosy Boraha (Sainte-Marie)
- "Dago" when we are abroad

Their inhabitants are the Malagasy. Between us we shortly say : "Gasy".

A "Gasy ambony" is a VIP as minister, ambassador, director, boss, proprietor. Literally it means high Gasy
A "Gasy mahantra" is a poor person. "mahantra" = poor.
"Gasy ka manja" means Malagasy is beautiful.

In popular language the alien is :
- "Vazaha" if he is European or American
- "Gena" for African or Afro-American
- "Karana" for Indian (Asia)
- "Kely maso" for Asians (Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Filipino,...)
- "Tavaratra" (from the north) for Arab
- "Vozongo" or "Tsotsoka" for French
- "Be kintana" (many stars) for US citizen
- "Rainiboto" (Father of boots) for German

The Malagasy is not of racist or xenophobic nature. He always reserves a good reception for the visitor. Even when this one does not understand the customs he does not get angry. On the other hand there is taboo subjects (fady or faly) ) there on which he is inflexible. For example he does not understand all the attention and affection which a White brings to his dog. For him this animal is impure, just good for guarding the herd or the house.

In spite of the christianization, in many regionsthe pig is always " fady " notably in the sacred places: palace and royal graves, hills, certain rivers, etc. It is a taboo not to be taken easy, especially in the Atsimo Atsinanana region (Southeast of the island): from Nosy Varika to Taolagnaro (Fort-Dauphin). The inhabitants who live there more or less forgot the Jewish and Islamic influences but not this one. "Un homme averti en vaut deux". Aleo manontanintany foana toa izay manaonao foana = It is better to ask naive question rather than to act in stupidly.

The Malagasy is very attached to its land.
It is the land of its Ancestors (Tanindrazana).
By extension Tanindrazana is the the homeland.

The lyrics of the national anthem begins by:

" Ry Tanindrazanay malala o,
Ry Madagaskara soa,
Ny fitiavanay anao tsy miala
Fa ho anao, ho anao doria tokoa.
Tahionao ry Zanahary
ity Tanindrazanay ity
Hiadana sy ho finaritra
E sambatra tokoa izahay"

O beloved Homeland,
O beautiful Madagascar,
Our love to you remains acquired
Till the end of time.
God bless our Homeland
We will be wealthy and joyful
O we are so happy"

[Daniel Leuck]

Hey Dany. Very interesting post!

The Malagasy is not of racist or xenophobic nature. He always reserves a good reception for the visitor. Even when this one does not understand the customs he does not get angry. On the other hand there is taboo subjects (fady or faly) ) there on which he is inflexible.

This is definitely true. Everywhere we went we were warmly greeted. We felt immediately at home.

Did you know there is a population of Malagasy people living in northeastern Peru (Mangachería) called the Mangaches? A Peruvian friend told me about them. This Wikipedia article mentions Mangachería.