Discover the ancestral Malagasy traditions in the Highlands and in Madagascar:
In the Highlands
- Adin’akoho: cockfights – a national sport
The best-known arenas are: Anosisoa, Ambohimangakely, Tanjombato, Ambatoroka and Andrady.
- Famadihana: sacred ritual of ‘’the turning of the bones” or “body turning’’
- Fandroana: ‘’bath of royal relics’’ ceremony
- Fanorona: Malagasy chess game
Players regularly gather Place de la Pergola in Antaninarenina.
- Hainteny: traditional Malagasy literature/poetry with the use of metaphor
- Ira Gasy ou encore ‘’vakodrazana’’ (= ancestral tradition): traditional popular opera that mixes theatre, singing, dancing and oratory
- Ohabolana: Malagasy proverbs
- Kabary: oratory in the form of speech
In Madagascar
- Afindrafindrao: dance that is often performed during celebrations
- Fijoroana: ritual that allows Malagasy people to invoke their ancestors
- Fitampoho ou Fanompoambe: ‘’bath of royal relics’’ ceremony
- Moraingy: Malagasy Martial art that looks like wrestling
- Ombiasy ou Dadarabe: traditional healer – specialized in medicine, spiritual meditation and fortune telling or sometimes these three altogether
- Ongan-janahary: mortuary art of the Mahafaly tribe
- Savika: zebu rodeo that is practiced/performed by the Bestileo tribe
- Sikidy: divinatory art that uses seeds and rocks
- Tromba: possession demonstration – especially during the Fijoroana
- Vaky soava: popular music
- Wagangi: sorcerer doctor
There are numerous fady (= taboo) in the country, which can differ from region to region or visited sites.