Madagascar is situated off the coast Southeast Africa and is the world’s fourth largest island, about the size of Texas. It covers 226,656 square miles and a large central plateau rises to 4,500 feet in elevation. To the South and East lies a narrow coastal strip lined by rainforests. The West is hilly and dry although three major rivers drain the West into Mozambique Channel. The North features white beaches and the South has a desert like landscape. The islands highest peak is Mount Maromokotro, at 9,436 feet.

The climate is tropical along the coast, temperate inland, and arid in the South. The hot and rainy season with highs averaging 85 degrees farenhite extends from September to April, interspersed with periodic cyclones. The dry and cool weather lasts from May to August. Only inland areas experience cold winters, with lows averaging 48 degrees farenhite.

Eighty percent of the flora and fauna are endemic to the island. But severe erosion and deforestation have endangered many species. Most of the world’s lemuers are on Madagascar. Medicinal plants such as the Rose Periwinkle benefit not only local people but also the entire world. International experts are working to learn from and preserve Madagascar’s unique ecosystem.

The islands first settlers arrived from Indonesia and Malaysia almost 2,000 years ago. They are the ancestors of the Highland Tribes, primarily

the Merina and Betsileo. Many Malayo-Indonesians also mixed with Arabs and Africans who came in later centuries, forming coastal tribes known collectively as Cotiers. The Highland and Cotier peoples developed separately over time with their respective Kings and cultures. Together these people are called Malagasy.

After the Portuguese sited Madagascar in 1500 European sailors and pirates visited often to trade guns and clothing for food and spices. Local hostilities and disease kept Europeans from having any real presence until the late 1800’s.

In the 1790’s Merina King Andrianampoinimerina unified the Highland Tribes establishing Antananarivo as his capital. His son Radama I extended Merina domination to most other parts of the island. The Merina ambition to unify the entire island met with British and Colonial ambitions. The two powers had varying degrees of influence on Merina rulers until France finally took control of the island in 1896. The French sent Queen Ranavalona III into exile and battled nationalists movements into submission. After World War II the Malagasy revolted against French rule. French troops brutally suppressed the insurrection at a cost of up to 80,000 lives. In 1958 the Malagasy overwhelmingly supported independence in a referendum. Independence was granted in 1960 though France retained a strong influence over politics and the economy.

Madagascar’s population of 14.9 million is growing by 2.8 percent. The 18 Malagasy tribes continue to live in their historical lands. The largest is the Merina followed by the Betsileo. Other major tribes are the Betsimisaraka (East), Antandroy (South), and the Tsimihety (North). Smaller groups include the Sihanaka, Bara, Antaisaka, Sakalava, and others. A small minority of Indo-Pakistani and Chinese merchants as well as some Comorians also lives in Madagascar. Some tension and resentment exists between the immigrant and native peoples, as well as between the Coastal and Highland groups.

Malagasy is a unique mixture of Indonesian, African, Arabic and some Malaysian. Written first in an Arabic-origin script called Sorabe, Malagasy was given it’s Latin script by British missionaries, under commission from King Radama I. The alphabet does not contain the letters C, Q, U, W or X. Malagasy is most closely related to the Merina dialect, but other tribes continue to speak their own dialect as well.

French is also an official language that was used more than Malagasy in government, education and business until 1972. Attempts to use Malagasy in school after 1973 were abandoned by 1991, partly because private schools continued to use French and their graduates received the best jobs. Even today Malagasy use French words in their daily speech and for science and technology.

Today people speak a more common form of Malagasy than their ancestors. However they retain traditional Malagasy oratory (kabary) and the use of proverbs. Malagasy proverbs store centuries of wisdom and culture. Nearly every conversation or speech contains a proverb or two. The right proverb can substitute for a more lengthy explanation.

About half of all Malagasy practice indigenous religious beliefs that acknowledge the existence of a supreme being, called Andriamanitra or Zanahary, and various idol gods. Ranzana ancestors are considered intermediaries between the gods and the living. Zebus (oxen-like cattle) are sacrificed to the gods. About 41 percent of the population are Christian.

The Malagasy are deeply attached to their heritage. Parents and the elderly are respected and honored. Malagasy are prone to share, no matter what little they have, according to the saying, "Even one grasshopper is to be shared."

The Malagasy people believe in destiny, which brings good or bad luck based on the time and date of a person’s birth. They also believe that fate plays a part in their lives.

Most urban residents wear Western attire, although it may be second-hand or combined with traditional items. Rural people tend to wear traditional outfits more often than Western clothes.

A common Malagasy greeting is "Manao ahoana?" (How are you?) Courtesy requires one to greet an older or more superior person first, adding an appropriate title. After the initial greetings, people ask "Inona no vaovao?" (What is new?), to which the usual reply is "Tsy misy" (Nothing).

Malagasy people like to visit each other often. Most visits, especially in rural areas, are unannounced. It is impolite to drop by at mealtime. In urban homes guests are received in a salon (sitting room) and offered such refreshments as soda, peanuts, crackers or cookies. When guests are present, children may eat separately. Guests leave a little food on their plate when finished to indicate the hosts have satisfied them. Eating at a restaurant is considered a luxury. However, workers who cannot go home for lunch either go to a nearby gargotte (inexpensive restaurant) or a vary mitsangana (outdoor vendor selling hot food to be eaten while standing).

In a typical Malagasy household, the father is provider and head of the family. The Mother is the nurturer and homemaker. Fihavanana (well-maintained relationship) is valued above all else; "Better lose money than lose a relationship". Children are taught family unity with, "Those who are united are as stone but those who are separated as sand." Economic hardships have forced many urban mothers to work outside the home, impacting family cohesion. Likewise, rural mothers work hard in the fields and cannot often provide enough care and nourishment to their children.

A meal without rice is considered incomplete. Rice is served with

loaka for lunch and dinner. Loaka can be anything from meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, or basic broth. One popular loaka is ravitoto sy henakisoa (ground manioc leaves with pork). Another is ro mazava (zebu stew with green leafy vegetables). Sakay, served on the side, is a mixture of jalapenos, ginger and garlic. Served with the meal is ranovola (golden water), a drink made from water boiled in the browned rice that remains stuck to the bottom of the pan after cooking).

Soccer is the most popular sport among men. The entire family might watch the World Cup on television. Males and females alike enjoy swimming and basketball, and all Malagasy are fond of dance and music. The fanorana is a traditional game played by strategically placing small stones in hollows of a board or the ground. Solitaire is both a game and a decoration. It consists of a polished round wooden support laden with lustrous semiprecious stones in carved holes.

General business hours extend from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a two-hour break for lunch, although banks and more stores are staying open through lunch as well.

A president as head of state who serves a five-year term governs Madagascar. The voting age is 18. The president appoints a Prime Minister from a list of candidates nominated by the 144-seat National Assembly.

The Malagasy economy is based on agriculture, with 80 percent of people engaged in subsistence farming. Many farmers are also employed in an export-oriented agricultural pursuit. Cash crops include coffee, cloves, vanilla, sugar and tobacco. Food crops include rice, cassava, cereal grains, potatoes, and corn. The primary livestock are cattle (zebus, a traditional symbol of wealth), pigs, goats, and sheep.

Most Malagasy walk or ride a bus. Main cities have taxis. The postal system works relatively well and the telephone system in Tana is gradually being upgraded with digital technology. A cellular system is spreading outward from the capital and Internet access became available in 1997. Most rural areas lack telephone service beyond public phones. Most families have a radio and many own a television.

Many rural inhabitants lack full access to education. Although seven years of schooling is mandatory beginning at age seven, it is not widely enforced. Poverty has made it difficult for some parents to pay tuition or to allow much needed labor to leave the family farm in order to attend school.