Madagascar

Location: ---Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean(across from Mozambique) of the southern east coast of Africa. (Madagascar 2010)

GEOGRAPHY

There is a steep escarpment between the plateau and low-lying coastal areas

Known as the “Red Island” because of red laterite soil that is being exposed by erosion

GEOGRAPHY

160 Million Years ago a portion of Africa

breaks off and Madagascar is born…

The highest mountain on the island is Maromokotro, at 9,436 ft, which is about 1/3 that of Mt. Everest.

Extensive deforestation and slash-and-burn practices have caused erosion (on right)

In the background: the Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, which protects many animals and mangrove forests in the area.

The capital of madagascar is

“Antananarivo”

-Its nickname is Tana.

20 s

25 s

0

0

45 s 00 50 s

Madagascar's

latitude and

longitude is

20° 00' S and

47° 00' E.

Latitude and Longitude:

Area: 587,040 sq.km

The Southeastern wind contributes a large role in the climate of Madagascar

It is Tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south.

Madagascar has two distinct seasons; a hot wet season and a cool dry season.

The climate tends to vary with the elevation and position toward the Southeastern wind.

East has heaviest rainfall (3.5 meters). This region is known for hot humid climate.

Central highlands are drier due to rain shadow eff ect

Lightning tends to be a serious fi re hazard in the central highlands were lightning storms are common

CLIMATE

Southwest and South have desert climate.

Only about 30cm of rain falls in the south

Surface water is most abundant in the east

Madagascar has a serious cyclone season.

The last serious cyclone was in 1994 leaving 70 human casualties.

Caused about 45 million dollars worth of damage

Population:In 2011, the population of madagascar was estimated to be about

20millions. i.e., 21,281,844 people.

Living conditions:Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, with approximately 71.3 % of people living in poverty and 83.3 % living on less than two dollars a day.

-The island of Madagascar is predominately populated by the people broadly classified as belonging to two groups those of Malayo-Indonesian descent and those of African descent.

Religion Over 50% of the people follow tradition religious beliefs;-40% are Christians (Protestants and Roman Catholics)-7% are Muslims

-Terrain of Madagascar : Narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in centre

-Madagascar also has such useful resources as: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower.

Official languages of Madagascar are Malagasy and French.

-There are 20 different versions of malagasy language.

-Malagasy is spoken throughout the entire island.

-French is only spoken between the people who are educated.

Language

Sex ratio• Sex ratio: • This entry includes the number of males for each female in five age groups

• at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 

• 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 

• 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female. 

• 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female .

• 55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female.

• 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female 

• Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

• -Sex ratio at birth has recently emerged as an indicator of certain kinds of

sex discrimination in some countries.

• Source: CIA World Factbook - December 6, 2013

Sex ratio

• Major exports include: coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts and livestock products

• Export partners: (see chart)• $600 million• Total Exports• $1.04 Billion• Rank 148 in the World

Export Partners

France57%US

13%

Germany12%

Japan9%

UK9%

• Major imports include: petroleum, consumer goods, food

• Import partners: (see chart)• $881 million• Total Imports• $1.83 Billion• Rank 153 in the World

Import Partners

France50%

Hong Kong19%

Japan19%

China6%

Singapore6%

-Considered to be amultiparty republic

-They have a president, a parliament , a prime ministry, and a cabinet-The president serves a five-year term and can be re-elected twice -The National Assembly consists of 160 people

Politics

-The senate consists of 90 senators

-60 are elected by the people and 30 are elected by the president

-They all serve 6-year terms

-President appoints the Prime Minister

-President holds the most power

The island has an unusual mix of wildlife e.g. it doesn’t have apes, monkeys, elephants, zebras, giraffes, lions, hyenas, rhinos, antelopes, buffalo or camels that you would expect in Africa. It has lemurs, tenrecs, boa constrictors ( a type of snake), iguanas and more.

Tenrec

Iguana

BoaConstrictor

• 5% of the worlds plant and animal species ( more than 80% belong to Madagascar.

• The lemur, the fossa (a forest-dwelling genet like mammal), three bird families and six baobab species

• On the margin of mainstream African foreign relations

• Welcomes relations with all countries• Strong links with United States, Europe, Japan, India, and China

• Reopened embassy in London in 2004 after 30 years of it being closed

• Many natural resources are found in Madagascar, including:

• Minerals: mica, quartz, graphite, chromite, semiprecious stones

• Coal, salt, and fish• Water (hydropower)

• The main part of Madagascar’s economy consists of agriculture, fishing, and forestry ( 70% of export earnings).

• Industrial economy consists of textile manufacturing, and processing of agricultural products.

• Tourism is also a large part of the economy.

Agriculture

Industry

Service

Agriculture

Industry

Service

• 1997-2000 period of economic growth• In 2001-2004, a dispute over presidential elections caused the GDP to drop 12.7%

• Malagasy Ariary’s value dropped significantly

• 24% inflation• Stricter monetary enforcement helped the growth development return to normal

• Poverty levels are still fairly high

• Vanilla has been historically important in Madagascar’s economy. When Coca-Cola switched to a different recipe using less vanilla, Madagascar’s economy fell drastically. Fortunately, Coke switched back to the original recipe and the economy returned to its normal state

• Madagascar is also known for being the world’s large cinnamon market

Country out look• The country of

Madagascar has been in an economic downturn as of recently.

• It is estimated that over 50% of the population lives under the poverty line and over 50% of the nations income comes from donors. Madagascar is the DARK GREEN BAR

BELOW.

The clothing of the people of Madagascar is reflective of the region that their tribe is from. The clothing itself is made from all natural sources. The vibrant colors are extracted from berries, minerals, and various natural resources.

The “lamba” is a traditional dress of malgasy people and a sign of the highest respect.

“Lamba”

The “lamba” is also given to rulers, spirits, and ancestors in order to receive blessings.

The way of Lamba is draped around a women indicates wheather she is single,married or widowed.

Different groups of Malgasy use different material for their own Lambas,

Clothing is given as a gift as a sign of respect. Men offer clothes to brides during the marriage ceremony and the groom and bride are wrapped in a single cloth to represent their union.

Everyday clothing is influenced by the western outlets that are in the towns. Much of the non traditional clothing is influenced by the previous French and British colonization.

GENDER ROLESMany laws have been passed to allow women to earn the same pay as men, however, tradition seems to trump laws in Madagascar. Women are still expected to maintain family and household, while men are the head of the household and also the monetary providers

Men are given greater consideration in social and religious roles

-Madagascar has a rich and distinctive musical heritage.

-The early Austronesian settlers brought with them the predecessor to the valiha (bamboo tube musical instrument) as well as other music which would form the basis of Traditional Malagasy music.

-European pirates also contributed to Malagasy musical traditions, importing the guitar, accordion, piano and the instruments used in Hiragasy performance including the violin, trumpet and clarinet.

FestivalsThere are seven major festivals:

-New year(Jan 1st)-Martyr’s dayMar 29th)-Easter Monday (varies May or June)-Labour day(May 1st)-Ascension day (varies May or June)-Whit Monday (varies May or June)-Independence day(June 26th)-Assumption(Aug 15th)-All saints day(Nov 1st)-Christmas day(Dec 25th)

Festivals-They also have a Music festival in early summer called Donia Music Festival.And then one in late fall early winter called Gasyfara music Festival

Primary African Culture Values

Sense of community lifeSense of good human relationsSense of the sacredness of lifeSense of hospitalitySense of the sacred and of religionSense of timeSense of respect for authority and the eldersSense of language and proverbs

TimelineFrom desolated island to Presidential controversy

Around 2000 years ago-Indonesians and people of mixed Indonesian/ African descent settle

1500’s – Portuguese, Dutch, French, and English attempt trading settlements but the fail due to the hostile conditions

1810-1828 – The first Merina King, Radama I, opens the country to English missionaries (introduced Christianity) whom translate Malagasy to a written language

1894 – France invades Madagascar

June 26th, 1960 – Madagascar gains its independence

1991 – Madagascar experiences its first economic collapse under the rule of Ratsiraka

2001 – Marc Ravalomanana is elected president and Ratsiraka flees in exile to France.

Sports• Madagascar sports include athletics, football, boxing,judo, tennis, basketball and various other games.

• Madagascar are practiced by many people of Madagascar. The country also participates in the international competitions especially in the field of Athletics.

• Women's basketball and women's tennis are two of the major sports at Madagascar

MADAGASCAR ARCHITECTURE

-The Architecture of Madagascar is unique in Africa, bearing strong resemblance to the construction.

-Throughout Madagascar and the region of Borneo, most traditional houses follow a rectangular form, and feature a steeply sloped, peaked roof supported by a central pillar.

-This house in South Kalimantan bears many of the iconic construction features brought from Borneo to Madagascar two thousand years ago: wood plank walls, piles to raise the house from the ground and a steeply sloping roof topped with crossed gable beams to form "roof horns."

Architecture

There are several distinct styles of architecture. A vast majority of government buildings in the capital and regional urban centers were built during the colonial period showing a French influence. However, there are two distinct traditional architectural styles evident in the country.

-The style of homes built on the high plateau differs markedly from homes found elsewhere due to a heavy reliance on local materials. Homes on the high plateau tend to be multistoried and are constructed of mud bricks

-Homes in coastal regions are often built on a raised platform in areas with high rainfall and on the ground in drier areas.

The Use of Space

-Interior furnishings of homes arranged in a traditional fashion in keeping with the Malagasy cosmological conception of the world being square and horizontal. -For example, the bed was located in the northeast, the greeting place for guests in the northwest corner, and the cooking hearth in the middle of the western side of the house. -Although some people still follow traditional customs of the placement of objects, the practice is in decline.

Woven bamboo walls, plank roofing

The most traditional coastal style:

houses with thatched roofing of ravinala on low piles in Sambava

Plant-based construction

Zafimaniry traditions

The Zafimaniry construct wooden houses with solid doors and shuttered windows

Earliest burial practices

Pre Christian and 19th century bet silo standing stone and Bara cave tomb

Wood-based construction

Lateral branches form the walls of traditional wooden Mahafaly houses in the southwest of Madagascar

Earth-based construction

Town gates in the Highlands were traditionally protected by stone disks (vavahady) and shaded by fig trees.

Local innovations

Typical brick houses with columns and west facing veranda near tana

Foreign influences

Bricks arches and domes inspired by queens palace in tana

Modern architecture-Foreign architectural influences, having arisen through increased European contact over the 19th century, intensified dramatically with the advent of French colonization in 1896.[4] -Over the past several decades, the increasing availability of relatively inexpensive modern construction materials imported from China and elsewhere has further reinforced a growing trend in urban areas away from traditional architectural styles in favor of more durable but generic structures using industrially produced materials such as concrete and sheet metal.[23] -Certain modern innovations may be more highly esteemed than others, for instance, corrugated sheet metal roofing was typically the least expensive and prestigious and most common addition to a traditional house.-Houses built entirely of concrete with glass windows and imported decorative balcony railings and window bars implied great wealth and the highest social status. -Although low income levels have served to preserve traditional construction among the majority of the population of Madagascar, due to the prestige associated with modern architectural innovations, traditional construction is often abandoned as income increases.[4]

-A limited number of recently constructed homes in Antananarivo attempt to blend Malagasy architectural traditions with the comforts of modern house construction.

Mahafaly tomb with traditional painted decoration