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INFORMATION ABOUT MADAGASCAR
Formal Name: Republic of Madagascar Short Name: Madagascar.
Location: Island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Mozambique
Population: 19,448,815 (July 2007 est.) Birth rate: 38.6 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) Death rate: 8.51 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Age structure:
Median
Age:
total: 17.8 years
male: 17.6 years female: 18 years (2007 est.)
Term for Citizens: Malagasy Languages: Malagasy (official), French (official) Religions: indigenous beliefs 36%, Christian 59%, Muslim 5% Capital City: Antananarivo Administrative divisions: 6 provinces : Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara Geography: - Area: Total: 587,040sq Km (226,656sq miles) Land: 581,540sq km Water: 5,500sq Km Coastline: 4,828km
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Climate: Madagascar is a tropical island that has two main seasons which are rainy, cooler and dry. The rainy season falls from late November to late April. The cooler and dry season season usually runs from early May to late October. Average temperature ranges in Antananarivo are from 9 to 20 degree Celsius (48 to 68 degree Fahrenheit) in July to 16 to 27 degrees Celsius (61 to 81 degree Fahrenheit) in December. Economy: Monetary unit: Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
1 US Dollar = 1,666.72 Malagasy Ariary (MGA) Gross Domestic Product (GDP): US $12.3 billion MAIN PRIMARY PRODUCTS: Beryl, Zirconia, Cattle, Chromium, Garnet, Graphite, Bananas, Maize, Cassava, Mangoes, Pepper, Potatoes, Rice, Sugar Cane, Timber, Vanilla, Coffee, cocoa, cloves, sugarcane, beans, bananas,peanuts. MAIN EXPORTS: Coffee, Cloves, Vanilla, Fish, Meat, Sugar, shellfish, cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS: USA, France,
China, Hong Kong Netherlands, Germany,
Mauritius, Iran, Bahrain, South Africa, Japan,
Singapore NATURAL RESOURCES: Chromite, coal, bauxite,
graphite, hydropower, mica, salt, semiprecious stones, tar sands, quartz
Time: GMT+3 Electricity: Mostly 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Independence: 26 June 1960 (from France)
Government type: Republic Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal EXECUTIVE BRANCH: Chief of State: President Marc Ravalomanana { ( since May 6, 2002) ( president elected by popular vote for a five- years term; election held December 16, 2001,(since January 19, 2007) election held December 03, 2006 ) } Head of government: Charles RABEMANANJARA (since January 20, 2007) (prime minister appointed by the president) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister The prime minister and members of Parliament initiate legislation, and the government executes it. The president can dissolve the National Assembly. For its part, the National Assembly can pass a motion of censure and require the prime minister and council of ministers to step down. The Constitutional Court approves the constitutionality of new laws. Territorial administration is to be determined by legislation. In an effort to decentralize administration, the Constitution calls for the six provinces (faritany) to become autonomous. The six provinces are Antananarivo, Mahajanga, Antsiranana, Toamasina, Fianarantsoa, and Toliary. Principal Government Officials
Ying Vah Zafilahy (Vice Minister) Marie Perline Rahantanirina (Vice Minister) Minister of Agriculture, Stockbreeding and Fishery: Armand Panja RAMANOELINA Minister of Interior : Charles RABEMANANJARA State Secretary within the Ministry of Interior in charge of Public Security: Désiré Rasolofomanana
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH: The Malagasy National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale: 160 deputies are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms President of National Assembly: Jacques Sylla The Senate: 100 Senators (two thirds of the seats filled by regional assemblies whose members are elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of the seats appointed by the president; all members serve four-year terms; election held 15 December 2002 {next to be held NA 2006} President of the Senate : Yvan Randriasandratriniony JUDICIAL BRANCH: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, HCC ( High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)
Constitution:
19
August 1992 by National Referendum
Political parties: There are more than 130
with a dozen major ones, including the ruling party I Love Madagascar (TIM),
Pillar and Podium for the Development of Madagascar (AREMA), Militants for the
Development of Madagascar (MFM), Be Judged by your Work (AVI), Work, Truth and
Harmonized Development (AFFA), National Union for Development and Democracy (UNDD),
Social Democrat Party (PSD), Reflection and Action Group for Development in
Madagascar (GRAD-Iloafo), Rally for Social Democracy (RPSD), Economic
Liberalism and Democratic Action for Reconstruction Party (LEADER-Fanilo),
Independence and Renewal Party of Madagascar (AKFM-Fanavaozana).
Flag Description: Two equal horizontal bands
of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist
side
The National logo (Coat of arms) :
The Malagasy Motto: " Tanindrazana. Fahafahana, Fandrosoana"
(Fatherland, Liberty, Progress)
Culture:
The Malagasy people has some unique traditions and customs. Malagasy families always have strong bond. All children live with their parents until they want to get married or they want to move out at their own will, and it does no matter at what age that is. The Malagasy traditions are very unique, for example, during an engagement (Fanateram-bodiondry). When two people are in love and are ready to move onto marriage, they must first get engaged. Engagement in Madagascar is very different from that of in the United States because engagement is done with a big celebration and in front of relatives and friends from both sides . During the celebration, close relatives from both sides are invited, the groom to be brings a gift for the future bride's parent as an honor and thanks for raising a beautiful daughter, and also bring the engagement ring for the bride to be. During the 17th, 18th, 19th century, engagement was the actual wedding for the Malagasy couple, however, in the 20th and 21st century, there is an engagement, and a separate wedding day.
Also part of the Malagasy traditions and customs is
the way people is buried. Unlike in the U.S, where people are buried at
cemeteries, families in Madagascar have their own tombstone. Tombstone that
their ancestors had built and the families Most contemporary and traditional Malagasy music revolves around dance rhythms with influences from Indonesia and the African mainland, notably Kenya. These rhythms are accompanied by the flute, whistle and valiha, a unique, 28-stringed instrument resembling a bassoon but played more like a harp. The lokanga voatavo, or cordophone, is also popular, as are a few types of guitar, including the kabosy, similar to a ukelele. Vaky soava is a rhythmic style of singing accompanied only by hand clapping, and perhaps the most renowned exponent is Paul Bert Rahasimanana (Rossy), who developed a personal style that included adding a musical accompaniment. He weaves themes of poverty, love, loss and hope into his music. Salegy is the best-known and most widely exported dance pop music of Madagascar. It began in northern coastal towns like Majunga, Nosy Be and Diego Suarez (Antsiranana). There is also a calmer, more romantic genre of the music, known as Malesa. Tsapiky , is a symbol of the music scene in southern of Madagascar. Kilalaky, a popular rythm from south-West of Madagascar (orginally from Belo Tsiribihina since XIX century). One of the most famous traditional dance in Madagascar is Afindrafindrao. The regional town of Fianarantsoa has developed into a literary capital of sorts in recent years, and several contemporary novelists and writers work there. While literature didn't really flower until the 1930s and 40s, traditional oratory, called kabary, is highly regarded. Kabary's roots are in early political assemblies, in which each speaker spoke in turn. It evolved and was eventually populated and extended to the general public as a form of entertainment. Kabary is an integral part of hira gasy, popular spectacles that include music, dancing and story telling, held regularly in Tana on most Sunday afternoons. Kabary is also used during an engagement (Fanateram-bodiondry). The dominant element of any Malagasy meal is "vary" or rice, and vary doesn't accompany the meal, the meal accompanies the vary. Roadside canteens normally offer a big plate of rice with a few tidbits to garnish it, such as beef, fish or poultry. Other than rice, favorite Malagasy dishes include romazava (beef and vegetable stew) and ravitoto (pork with cassava leaves). Many dishes are accompanied by salads. The seafood on the coast is excellent and cheap, and you can eat a range of tropical fruits (voankazo) such as pineapples,letchis, mangoes and bananas for most of the year. TOURISM: POINTS OF INTEREST
- Palace of Andafiavaratra
- Art and Archeological museum ( Isoraka)
- Art and Archeological Center ( Analakely)
- National Geological museum (Ampandrianomby)
- Thermal baths where people
having a course of treatment of hepatics and rheumatism
- Bay of Courrier
: Fishing, diving, bivouac Island (Nosy Hara)
- Ambatolaoka
: swimming station, one of the beautiful beaches
- Tanana Ambony ( High
village) : palace
- Zafimaniry
village : wooden house with sculpted geometrical design walls
- Village of Katsepy : beach
full of oyster, a forest where lives a lots of lemurs
- Prunes Island or Nosy Alanana
: barrier of coral, lemurs
- Ilôt Madame : fish, sea
tortoises, coral Pirates cemetery
- Art museum and southern
traditional crafts, funeral art of the tribe called
- Belo sur mer and its islands
: marine animal-life
- Ranofotsy bay : flamingo
Masombahiny.com © Last update May 2008
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