Malagasy

mythology Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narra ...

is rooted in

oral history Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews. These interviews are conducted with people wh ...

and has been transmitted by

storytelling Storytelling is the social and cultural activity of sharing stories, sometimes with improvisation, theatrics or embellishment. Every culture has its own stories or narratives, which are shared as a means of entertainment, education, cultural pr ...

(''angano'', "story"), notably the Andriambahoaka epic, including the Ibonia cycle. At least 52-59% of the country is an adherent of the religion, which is known as Fomba Gasy. Adherence to Fomba Gasy is high amongst the Sakalava people (up to 80%), as they are reluctant to convert to faiths of foreign origin. Traditional mythology in Madagascar tells of a

creator deity A creator deity or creator god (often called the Creator) is a deity responsible for the creation of the Earth, world, and universe in human religion and mythology. In monotheism, the single God is often also the creator. A number of monolatr ...

referred to as ''Zanahary'', and the division of

Heaven Heaven or the heavens, is a common religious cosmological or transcendent supernatural place where beings such as deities, angels, souls, saints, or venerated ancestors are said to originate, be enthroned, or reside. According to the belie ...

and

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. While large volumes of water can be found throughout the Solar System, only Earth sustains liquid surface water. About 71% of Earth's sur ...

between Zanahary and his son, Andrianerinerina, a rebellious

hero A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ''actor''), ''her ...

and frequent theme of their worship as the son of God, or between Zanahary and earth deities such as Ratovantany which crafted human bodies from clay; in these myths Zanahary gave life to humans, and their souls return to him on the sky or on the sun while their bodies return to the earth deities.https://www.scilt.org.uk/portals/24/passeport2/educationscotland/Images/MadagascarCreationMyth_tcm4-730169.pdf In contrast to Andrianerinerina, the word ''Andriamanitra'' (the

Merina The Merina people (also known as the Imerina, Antimerina, or Hova) are the largest ethnic group in Madagascar.Merina ...

term for "Fragrant Lord") is used to refer to revered ancestors. Malagasy cultures were generally

polytheistic Polytheism is the belief in multiple deities, which are usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own religious sects and rituals. Polytheism is a type of theism. Within theism, it contrasts with monotheism, the ...

, and worshiped a variety of entities that straddled the line between god and revered ancestor.Lee Haring (2007). ''Stars and Keys: Folktales and Creolization in the Indian Ocean'', Indiana University Press.

Role of ancestors

Famadihana reburial razana ancestor Madagascar

Ancestors are generally viewed as a benevolent force in the life of the living, but among some Malagasy it is believed that the spirits of ancestors may become ''angatra'' (ghosts of the dead) if they are ignored or abused. Angatra are believed to haunt their own graves and bring disease and misfortune to those living who offended them. A particular type of angatra is the : beings which look like people but have red eyes and long fingernails and disembowel living people. Rituals such as the '' famadihana''—rewrapping the bodies of the dead every 5–10 years in fresh '' lamba'' (handmade cloth)—are believed by some to prevent due to the traditional association of the lamba with '' hasina'', the mystical and sacred life force. Beliefs relating to the powers and activities of the ancestors vary greatly from community to community within Madagascar.

''Fady'' (cultural taboos)

The declarations or actions of ancestors are often the source of '' fady'' (taboos) that shape the social life of Malagasy communities. Across Madagascar,

lemur Lemurs ( ) (from Latin ''lemures'' – ghosts or spirits) are wet-nosed primates of the superfamily Lemuroidea (), divided into 8 families and consisting of 15 genera and around 100 existing species. They are endemic to the island of Madagas ...

s are often revered and protected by fady. In all of the origin myths of the

Indri The indri (; ''Indri indri''), also called the babakoto, is one of the largest living lemurs, with a head-body length of about and a weight of between . It has a black and white coat and maintains an upright posture when climbing or clinging. ...

(in Betsimisaraka dialect: Babakoto), there is some connection of the lemur with humanity, usually through common ancestry. There are numerous accounts of the origin of the

in particular, but all characterize

s as sacred, and not to be hunted or harmed.

Vazimba veneration

Malagasy mythology portrays a pygmy-like people called the ''

Vazimba The Vazimba (Malagasy ), according to popular belief, were the first inhabitants of Madagascar. While beliefs about the physical appearance of the Vazimba reflect regional variation, they are generally described as smaller in stature than the ave ...

'' as the original inhabitants. Some Malagasy believe that these original inhabitants still live in the deepest recesses of the forest. In certain communities (and particularly in the Highlands), the practice of

veneration of the dead The veneration of the dead, including one's ancestors, is based on love and respect for the deceased. In some cultures, it is related to beliefs that the dead have a continued existence, and may possess the ability to influence the fortune of t ...

can extend back to veneration of the Vazimba as the most ancient of ancestors. The kings of some Malagasy tribes claim a blood kinship to the Vazimba, including the Merina dynasty that eventually ruled over all of Madagascar. The Merina claim Vazimba ancestry through the royal line's founder, King

Andriamanelo Andriamanelo ( ''fl.'' 1540–1575) was king of Alasora in the central highlands region of Madagascar. He is generally considered by historians to be the founder of the Kingdom of Imerina and originator of the Merina royal line that, by the ...

, whose mother, Queen Rafohy, was of the Vazimba.

List of mythological figures

* Zanahary: The creator

sky deity The sky often has important religious significance. Many religions, both polytheistic and monotheistic, have deities associated with the sky. The daytime sky deities are typically distinct from the nighttime ones. Stith Thompson's '' Motif ...

and generally most revered deity. Breathed life into beings, and their essence returns to him to the heavens upon death. * Andrianerinerina: The son of Zanahary, folk hero and ancestor of the royal line. * Andriambahomanana: The first man, and a

lunar deity A lunar deity or moon deity is a deity who represents the Moon, or an aspect of it. These deities can have a variety of functions and traditions depending upon the culture, but they are often related. Lunar deities and Moon worship can be found ...

. * Mahaka and Kotofetsy: A pair of

trickster In mythology and the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a character in a story ( god, goddess, spirit, human or anthropomorphisation) who exhibits a great degree of intellect or secret knowledge and uses it to play tricks or otherwi ...

deities. * Ratovantany: Creator earth god. Shaped the physical bodies of beings, and claims their remains upon death. * Rapeto: An earth deity/mythical hero credited with shaping the land.Zoë Crossland (2014). ''Ancestral Encounters in Highland Madagascar: Material Signs and Traces of the Dead'', Cambridge University Press.

References

Selected literature

* Bonnefoy, Yves;, Doniger, Wendy (1993). ''Asian Mythologies''. University Of Chicago Press. pp. 187–201. . * Dandouau, A. (1922). ''Contes Populaires Des Sakalava Et Des Tsimihety''. * Ferrand, Gabriel. ''Contes populaires malgaches''. Paris: Ernest Leroux, 1893. * * Haring, Lee (1994). ''Ibonia: Epic of Madagascar''. Bucknell University Press. . * * * * * * * * * * * * De Longchamps, Jeanne. ''Conte Malgaches''. Paris: Editions Erasme. 1955. * McElroy, Colleen J. (1999). ''Over the Lip of the World: Among the Storytellers of Madagascar''. . * * Randriamanantena, Didier. ''Le Roi et Ifara'' (graphic novel retelling the legend of Razafimbolamena, the prodigal son). * Renel, Charles. ''Contes de Madagascar''. Paris: Ernest Leroux, 1910. * Renel, Charles. ''Contes de Madagascar''. Paris: Ernest Leroux, 1930. * Tyson, Peter (2000). ''The Eighth Continent: Life, Death and Discovery in the Lost World of Madagascar''. .

External links

Ibonia
{{Religion topics African folklore