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Menabe is a
region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics ( physical geography), human impact characteristics ( human geography), and the interaction of humanity an ...
in western
Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Afric ...
, with its capital at
Morondava Morondava (, from mg, morona lava "long coast") is a city located in Menabe Region, of which it is the capital, in Madagascar. It is located in the delta of the Morandava River at . Its population as of the 2018 census, was 53,510. Population ...
. It covers an area of , and its population was 700,577 in 2018. The population mostly belongs to the Sakalava ethnic group. The region is named after the 18th-century Sakalava
Kingdom of Menabe Kingdom commonly refers to: * A monarchy ruled by a king or queen * Kingdom (biology), a category in biological taxonomy Kingdom may also refer to: Arts and media Television * ''Kingdom'' (British TV series), a 2007 British television drama ...
(16th-18th centuries). The name "Menabe", in turn, means "big red", after the color of
laterite Laterite is both a soil and a rock type rich in iron and aluminium and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are of rusty-red coloration, because of high iron oxide content. They develop by ...
rock that dominates the landscape.


History

Menabe is the southern part of the Sakalava territory. Tradition holds that it was founded by Adriamandazoala (reigned c1540 - 1560). Its territory was increased under the legendary Andriandahifotsy (c1610 - 1685). It thus became the strongest kingdom in
Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Afric ...
until the mid-18th century. Among its most famous rulers was Ranaimo or Andriandrainarivo (ruled 1718-1727) who is known through the memoirs of Europeans such as Robert Drury,
James Cook James Cook (7 November 1728 Old Style date: 27 October – 14 February 1779) was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the British Royal Navy, famous for his three voyages between 1768 and 1779 in the Pacific Ocean and ...
, the crew of the Dutch East Indiaman ''Barneveld'', 1719, François Valentijn (1726). Though handsome and imposing he was a paralytic.
Radama I Radama I "the Great" (1793–1828) was the first Malagasy sovereign to be recognized as King of Madagascar (1810–1828) by a European state. He came to power at the age of 18 following the death of his father, King Andrianampoinimerina. Under R ...
would conduct three ravaging campaigns in the kingdom of Menabe in 1820, in 1821 and finally in 1822. Finally, Ramitraho king of Menabe at the time, sued for peace by giving his daughter Rasalimo to Radama as his wife. But peace would not follow until Rasalimo offered another peace treaty in 1827. Unfortunately Radama died before negotiations could finish. Eventually the Merina conquered and subjugated the southern Menabe territories in 1834 right after Ramitraho's death. Constant war would ensue culminating with a Merina victory in 1846. Queen
Ranavalona I Ranavalona I (born Rabodoandrianampoinimerina (also called Ramavo); 1778 – 16 August 1861), also known as Ranavalo-Manjaka I and the “Mad Monarch of Madagascar” was sovereign of the Kingdom of Madagascar from 1828 to 1861. After posi ...
then garrisoned major Menabe towns and sent farmers to colonize the area. Menabe rulers were allowed to keep their authority but under the local Merina governor. The northern Menabe largely escaped Merina authority and stayed independent despite the fact that they no longer posed any threat to the monarchy in
Antananarivo Antananarivo ( French: ''Tananarive'', ), also known by its colonial shorthand form Tana, is the capital and largest city of Madagascar. The administrative area of the city, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra ("Antananarivo-Mother Hill" or "A ...
. During the French invasion of Madagascar the Menabe kings united their forces. On August 14, 1897 and August 30, 1897 the 100 Menabe chiefs with 10,000 warriors armed with
rifle A rifle is a long-barreled firearm designed for accurate shooting, with a barrel that has a helical pattern of grooves ( rifling) cut into the bore wall. In keeping with their focus on accuracy, rifles are typically designed to be held with ...
s met the French troops in Anosimena and
Ambiky Ambiky is a municipality in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Belo sur Tsiribihina, which is a part of Menabe Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 2,000 in 2001 commune census. Only primary schooling i ...
. King Itoera was killed along with both his generals and many of his nobles. But the Menabe was not pacified until the year 1900. Menabe was then incorporated into the province of
Toliara Toliara (also known as ''Toliary'', ; formerly ''Tuléar'') is a city in Madagascar. It is the capital of the Atsimo-Andrefana region, located 936 km southwest of national capital Antananarivo. The current spelling of the name was adopted ...
under the
French colonization The French colonial empire () comprised the overseas colonies, protectorates and mandate territories that came under French rule from the 16th century onward. A distinction is generally made between the "First French Colonial Empire", that exis ...
which ended in 1960. In 2004 it became a Region.


Geography

The Menabe region is situated between the Mangoky and
Manambolo River ''For the rural municipality, see Manambolo (disambiguation)'' The Manambolo River is a river in the highlands of western Madagascar of 370 km. It crosses the Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve and the Maningoza Reserve. The unpaved R ...
s.


Rivers

* Mangoky *
Manambolo River ''For the rural municipality, see Manambolo (disambiguation)'' The Manambolo River is a river in the highlands of western Madagascar of 370 km. It crosses the Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve and the Maningoza Reserve. The unpaved R ...
*
Morondava River The Morondava river in Menabe region, is located in western Madagascar. It originates on the Makay Massif and flows northwestwards into the Indian Ocean near the town with the same name: Morondava Morondava (, from mg, morona lava "long coast" ...
*
Tsiribihina River The Tsiribihina is a river of western Madagascar. The main tributaries are the Mahajilo, Manandaza, Mania, and Sakeny rivers. Its basin has an area of 49,800 km2. 7,025 km2 is in the basin of the Sakeny River, 14,500 km2 in that of the Mah ...
*
Sakeny River The Sakeny River is a river in Western Madagascar. It is a tributary of the Tsiribihina River. The Sakeny originates on the northern Makay Massif in northern Beroroha District of Atsimo-Andrefana Region. It flows northward through the north–so ...


Tourism

The
Avenue of the Baobabs The Avenue of the Baobabs, or Alley of the Baobabs, is a prominent group of Grandidier's baobabs (''Adansonia grandidieri'') lining the dirt road between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina in the Menabe region of western Madagascar. Its strik ...
is one of the most visited locations in the region.


Transport

It is connected with the inland by the Route nationale No.35 to Ivato, Route nationale No.34 to
Antsirabe Antsirabe () is the third largest city in Madagascar and the capital of the Vakinankaratra region, with a population of 265,018 in 2014. In Madagascar, Antsirabe is known for its relatively cool climate (like the rest of the central region), it ...
and is crossed by the Route nationale No.8 to Bekopaka.


Airports

*
Ankavandra Airport Ankavandra Airport is an airport in Ankavandra, a town in the Menabe Region in Madagascar. It is located west of Antananarivo, the capital Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of natio ...
* Belo/Tsiribihina Airport * Malaimbandy Airport * Mandabe Airport * Manja Airport *
Miandrivazo Airport Miandrivazo Airport is an airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport. Airports usually consists of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at ...
*
Morondava Airport Morondava Airport is an airport in Morondava, Menabe Region, Madagascar .Morondava Airport
worlda ...


Protected Areas

*Part of
Mangoky Ihotry Wetland Complex The Mangoky River is a 564-kilometer-long (350 mi) river in Madagascar in the regions of Atsimo-Andrefana and Anosy. It is formed by the Mananantanana and the Matsiatra. Another important affluent is the Zomandao River. It rises in the ...
* Ambondrobe New Protected Area *
Avenue of the Baobabs The Avenue of the Baobabs, or Alley of the Baobabs, is a prominent group of Grandidier's baobabs (''Adansonia grandidieri'') lining the dirt road between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina in the Menabe region of western Madagascar. Its strik ...
New Protected Area *
Menabe Antimena Menabe Antimena is a protected area in Menabe region of western Madagascar. Menabe Antimena is on the west coast of Madagascar, south of the Mania River. It covers an area of dry forest, succulent woodland, mangroves, and secondary grassland ...
New Protected Area *Part of the Ambohijanahary Reserve *
Kirindy Mitea National Park The Kirindy Mitea National Park is a national park on the coast of the Mozambique Channel, in south-west Madagascar. The park contains many endemic animals and plants and claims to have the greatest density of primates in the world. Geography Th ...
*
Andranomena Reserve Andranomena Special Reserve is a wildlife reserve in Menabe Region, western Madagascar, near the city of Morondava and the rural commune of Bemanonga. Geography This reserve is north-east of the city of Morondava and from Baoababs' Alley ...
are situated in this region.


Administrative divisions

Menabe Region is divided into five districts, which are sub-divided into 51 communes:Districts of Madagascar
*
Belo sur Tsiribihina District Belon'i Tsiribihina (also referred to as Belo sur Tsiribihina) is a district of the Menabe region of Madagascar and borders the Miandrivazo region to the east, the Mahabo to the southeast, and the Morondava to the southwest. Communes The distr ...
- 14 communes * Mahabo District - 11 communes * Manja District - 6 communes * Miandrivazo District - 15 communes * Morondava District - 5 communes


References


External links


Among the Menabe; or, Thirteen Months on the West Coast of Madagascar.
By George Herbert Smith, S.P.G. Missionary (1896)


Menabe tourism office
{{Coord, 20, 18, 00, S, 44, 16, 48, E, region:MG_type:adm1st_source:dewiki, display=title Regions of Madagascar