63-544: The Mahafaly are an ethnic group of Madagascar that inhabit the plains of the Betioky -Ampanihy area. Their name means either "those who make holy" or "those who make happy", although the former is considered more likely by linguists. In 2013 there were an estimated 150,000 Mahafaly in Madagascar. The Mahafaly are believed to have arrived in Madagascar from southeastern Africa around the 12th century. They became known for
126-578: A better meat quality than the zebu and better heat resistance than European cattle. The zebu breeds used were primarily Indo-Brazilian with some Nelore and Guzerat. Another Charolais cross-breed with Brahmans is called Australian Charbray and is recognised as a breed in some countries. From the 1960s onwards, Nelore which is an off breed of Ongole Cattle became the primary breed of cattle in Brazil because of its hardiness, heat-resistance, and because it thrives on poor-quality forage and breeds easily, with
189-423: A common male ancestor who died recently enough that the oldest members of the group can trace their kinship ties to him and remember some features about him as a person. All sacrifices to the ancestors ( soro ) are made in the name of this common ancestor, and the oldest male tariha member is responsible for carrying out these rituals on behalf of the group. Members of a tariha typically live near each other and form
252-454: A distinct species again. The American Society of Mammalogists considers it part of the species Bos taurus in analogy to Sanga cattle ( Bos taurus africanus Kerr , 1792 ). The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature has not yet published a ruling on the classification of domestic derivatives and no scientific body advocates the abolition of the biological species concept for domestic animals. Currently (2024s), it
315-412: A grouping of all descendants of a living man or woman; an individual belongs simultaneously to multiple foko. Members of a foko typically only gather or work together when the head of the foko is ill, in need of assistance, or has died, in which case the members will organize to take action as needed. An even stronger identity is one's tariha , the living descendants of a male line of descent traced back to
378-505: A large margin of error. According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects the total population was 28,915,653 in 2021, compared to only 4,084,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 43.1%, 53.8% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 3.1% was 65 years or older. Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2019) (Unrevised data. Data refer to projections based on
441-458: A leader in the 1500s with the migration of the Maroserana into the southwestern part of Madagascar. Prior to the arrival of the Maroserana, people settled in this portion of the island lived in communities ruled by chiefly families called andriantsileliky . Maroserana migrants initially formed alliances with these families, but this eventually turned to conflict, with the Maroserana emerging as
504-522: A medium intermediary, and commanded obedience by inspiring fear and awe. The followers of this noble remained united in their allegiance to him through the ombiasy (holy adviser) who served as an intermediary between the ruler and his people. One of the earliest documented Mahafaly political actions was in June 1649, when twelve Mahafaly envoys visited the French settlement at Fort Dauphin to successfully obtain
567-470: A short French military campaign in 1907. Mahafaly society is generally patriarchal. It is expected that male family members (fathers, sons, brothers) should live in close proximity to one another, while women are expected to move to their husband's village. Society is primarily structured around five types of kinship groups, with the immediate household as the most important. As in other parts of Madagascar, ancestors are venerated. Historically, beginning with
630-547: A single ethnic group, however, and prefer to identify along other kinship or geopolitical lines; the name Mahafaly holds no meaning for the people originating from this area and instead is a label imposed from the outside. The majority of the population is concentrated along the banks of the rivers that run through the otherwise largely arid territory. According to oral histories, the Mahafaly people trace their origins back to an early Maroserana noble, Olembetsitoto, who emerged as
693-484: A symbol of their status. The household is the most important social affiliation among the Mahafaly. A household is defined as a group of cohabiting family members led by and "belonging to" the oldest male in the group. Children remain a member of their father's household until reaching adulthood, at which point young men establish their own house and family near their father's house, while young women marry and move into their husband's house. Men retain custody of children in
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#1732776654679756-487: A village or cluster of villages. The Mahafaly are mainly involved in farming and cattle raising. Zebu hold an important place in society for both economic and spiritual reasons, being seen as symbolic of life and nobility, as well as a means of linking the living to the ancestors. Members of a household work together to undertake farming and other livelihood activities to meet the family's subsistence needs. The younger male family members are typically responsible for herding
819-457: Is based on the development of their bodies to withstand the strain of carrying the calf and lactation. Early reproduction can place too much stress on the body and possibly shorten lifespans. The gestation period averages 285 days, but varies depending on the age and nutrition of the mother. The sex of the calf may also affect the carrying time, as male calves are carried for a longer period than females. Location, breed, body weight, and season affect
882-405: Is no longer always the case. Tombs are typically clustered together and laid out according to the rank and role of the family members, with the eldest ancestor's tomb the furthest south, his descendants to his north, and wives and unmarried family members to his west. Funerals consist of several ceremonies, and zebu are sacrificed at each; their skulls are placed on top of the tomb. The first ceremony
945-641: Is not correct to describe Zebu animals as Bos taurus indicus , but rather as Bos indicus , because they are a different species from Bos taurus . The extinct wild auroch ( Bos primigenius ) population diverged into two distinct genetic strains: the humpless Bos taurus (taurine) and the humped Bos indicus (indicine or zebu). Zebu cattle were found to derive from the Indian form of aurochs and have first been domesticated between 7,000 and 6,000 YBP at Mehrgarh , present-day Pakistan , by people linked to or coming from Mesopotamia . Its wild ancestor,
1008-405: Is one of preparation for the following events and the ombilahy zebu sacrificed at this ceremony is particularly important because the meat is shared with all those gathered as a gesture of unity and friendship. The Mahafaly also decorate their tombs with aloalo , tall wooden posts carved with geometric patterns and occasionally topped with carved zebu or other figures that hold significance for
1071-672: Is predominantly populated by people broadly classified as belonging to the Malagasy ethno-linguistic group. This group is further subdivided a number of ethnic groups, often into the standard eighteen. In addition, communities of Indians in Madagascar and Arabs and Somalis have long been established on the island and have assimilated into local communities to varying degrees, in some places having long since become identified "Malagasy" ethnic groups, and in others maintaining distinct identities and cultural separation. More recent arrivals include Europeans and Chinese immigrants. Madagascar
1134-771: The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya and in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia discovered that cattle had been domesticated in Africa independently of domestication in the Near East. They concluded that the southern African cattle populations derive originally from East Africa rather than from a southbound migration of taurine cattle. The results are inconclusive as to whether domestication occurred first in Africa or
1197-771: The Near East was present in Egypt around 4,000 YBP . Its first appearance in the Subsahara is dated to after 700 AD and it was introduced to the Horn of Africa around 1000. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the zebu Y chromosome haplotype groups are found in three different lineages: Y3A, the most predominant and cosmopolitan lineage; Y3B, only observed in West Africa; and Y3C, predominant in south and northeast India. Zebu, as well as many Sanga cattle, have humps on
1260-683: The large tombs they build to honor dead chiefs and kings. Mainly involved in farming and cattle raising, they speak a dialect of the Malagasy language , which is a branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language group . This ethnic group label has been used by other Malagasy and foreigners to describe the people who traditionally inhabited the southwestern coast of Madagascar, bounded inland by the Menarandra and Onilahy rivers. The people themselves do not use this label or identify as part of
1323-656: The miniature zebu are also kept as pets . In some regions, zebu have significant religious meaning . Both scientific names Bos taurus and Bos indicus were introduced by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, with the latter used to describe humped cattle in China . The zebu was classified as a distinct species by Juliet Clutton-Brock in 1999, but as a subspecies of the domestic cattle , Bos taurus indicus , by both Clutton-Brock and Colin Groves in 2004 and by Peter Grubb in 2005. In 2011, Groves and Grubb classified it as
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#17327766546791386-460: The 18h May to 10 June 2018 census numbered 25 674 186 inhabitants. [1] The problem with population estimation in Madagascar is that data is very old and limited. The last population census was carried out in 1993, after an initial 1975 census. There was an attempt at a census in 2009, but this attempt ultimately failed due to political instability. Therefore, the demographic situation is inferred but reliability of any estimates from any source has
1449-506: The 1993 Population Census.): UN medium variant projections: Registration of vital events in Madagascar is not complete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates. Source: UN DESA , World Population Prospects, 2022 Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR): Fertility data as of 2008-2009 (DHS Program): Source: UN World Population Prospects The island of Madagascar
1512-459: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Jehovah's Witnesses , Seventh-day Adventists , Eastern Orthodox Christians and evangelicals. Many incorporate the cult of the dead with their other religious beliefs and bless their dead at church before proceeding with the traditional burial rites. They also may invite a pastor to attend a famadihana. A historical rivalry exists between
1575-528: The Indian aurochs, became extinct during the Indus Valley civilisation likely due to habitat loss, caused by expanding pastoralism and interbreeding with domestic zebu. Its latest remains ever found were dated to 3,800 YBP, making it the first of the three aurochs subspecies to die out. Archaeological evidence including depictions on pottery and rocks suggests that humped cattle likely imported from
1638-614: The Indians in Madagascar have a high level of education, particularly the younger generation. A sizeable number of Europeans also reside in Madagascar , mostly of French descent. Religion in Madagascar (2020) according to the Pew Research Center According to the 1993 national census, 41% of Malagasies practised Christianity and 52% practise traditional religion, which tends to emphasize links between
1701-423: The Mahafaly since the 16th century. They also gather wild honey, sell charcoal, weave baskets and mats, practice woodworking, cultivate kitchen gardens and raise small livestock. Ethnic groups of Madagascar Demographic features of the population of Madagascar include population density , ethnicity , education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of
1764-530: The Merina dialect. Indians in Madagascar descend mostly from traders who arrived in the newly independent nation looking for better opportunities. The majority of them came from the west coast of India known as Karana (Muslim) and Banian (Hindu). The majority speak Hindi or Gujarati , although some other Indian languages are also spoken. Nowadays the younger generations speak at least three languages, including French, Gujarati and Malagasy. A large number of
1827-675: The Near East. Sanga cattle breeds is considered to have originated from hybridization of zebu with taurine cattle leading to the Afrikaner , Red Fulani , Ankole , Boran and many other breeds. Some 75 breeds of zebu are known, split about evenly between African and Indian breeds. Other breeds of zebu are quite local, like the Hariana from Haryana , Punjab or the Rath from Alwar district , Rajasthan . Zebu, which are adapted to high temperatures , were imported into Brazil in
1890-505: The Tentative List of World Heritage Sites . Tomb sites may only be visited during funerals or to retrieve wandering cattle but are otherwise strictly off limits. Households are not allowed to produce their own aloalo or coffins or make use of their own tomb construction materials or ombilahy zebu - all must be purchased or commissioned from a specialized clan that the household has historically relied on to produce these items, and
1953-606: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Madagascar is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with
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2016-574: The aloalo and sacrificial zebus; the remaining family members and friends procure the stones required for the construction of the tomb. The tomb's size is consequently dependent on the size of the family and the deceased's social standing. The Mahafaly speak a dialect of the Malagasy language , which is a branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language group derived from the Barito languages , spoken in southern Borneo . The Mahafaly are primarily zebu cattle herders and pastoralists. Cotton has been cultivated by
2079-670: The assistance of Kulanu, a nonprofit organization focusing on remote Jewish communities. In 2023, the country scored 3 out of 4 for religious freedom. Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2022. The following demographic are from the CIA World Factbook unless otherwise indicated. The largest city in Madagascar is Antananarivo . The next largest cities are Toamasina , Antsirabe , Fianarantsoa , Mahajanga , Toliara , Antsiranana and Ambovombe . note: on 21 March 2022,
2142-435: The calves rarely requiring human intervention to survive. Currently more than 80% of beef cattle in Brazil (approximately 167,000,000 animals) are either purebred or hybrid Ongole Cattle which is originated from Ongle region of Andhra Pradesh. Zebu are used as draught and riding animals , beef cattle , dairy cattle , as well as for byproducts such as hides, dung for fuel and manure , and horn for knife handles and
2205-478: The community. Early Mahafaly kings lived in compounds that had paths radiating out toward each of the major surrounding villages in his territory, and his power was compounded by the possession of royal relics believed to hold supernatural powers. The king ruled over a society that was divided into those of privilege ( renilemy ), commoners ( valohazomanga ) and migrants to the area from elsewhere ( folahazomanga ). The renilemy consisted of those who were descendants of
2268-406: The cultural life of the Mahafaly. Historically, common taboos among the Mahafaly included a prohibition against women drinking from the same cup or sitting on the same mat as their husband, standing while speaking to a king, and Mahafaly women historically being allowed to smoke tobacco but not chew it. Throughout Mahafaly country, it was forbidden for white people to enter; if one managed to penetrate
2331-480: The deceased. These posts are meant to indicate that a person has died and attained the status of "ancestor" ( razana ), which serve as intermediaries between the living and God; the tomb is the ancestor's new home, as death is not seen as an ending but as a transformation into another phase of life. Aloalo today are considered an iconic symbol of Madagascar, and the Mahafaly homeland encompassing its semi-arid ecosystem and wealth of tombs and funerary art has been added to
2394-470: The early 20th century. Their importation marked a change in cattle ranching in Brazil as they were considered "ecological" since they could graze on natural grasses and their meat was lean and without chemical residues. In the early 20th century in Brazil, Zebu were crossbred with Charolais cattle , a European taurine breed. The resulting breed, 63% Charolais and 37% zebu, is called the Canchim . It has
2457-419: The event of a divorce. It is not uncommon among traditional families for a man to have more than one wife. Immediate family members living together in a household are responsible for organizing the weddings and funerals of their family members, as well as covering expenses related to healing ceremonies ( rombo ) for ill family members. A Mahafaly individual's social identity is also defined by his or her foko -
2520-450: The family's cattle and men of all ages work in the fields. Women assist with work in the fields and are also responsible for household tasks like cooking and fetching water, often assisted by their children and sometimes by their husband. Clothing in this region was traditionally made of spun cotton, which was cultivated locally; less frequently, locally spun silk was also sometimes used. Fady "taboos" have long played an important role in
2583-410: The first Maroserana ruler, the Mahafaly were ruled by kings of the Maroserana line. Kings were buried in tombs called volamena ("gold") and they were renamed after their death, a practice called anaratahina , as it was taboo after death to speak the name a king had in life; all his followers were required to cut their hair at the start of the mourning period and any who did not comply were expelled from
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2646-682: The full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine 2020 figures (2021 est.) noun: Malagasy (singular and plural) adjective: Malagasy Malayo-Indonesian ( Merina and related Betsileo ), coastal ethnics (mixed African , Malayo - Indonesian , and Arab ancestry – Betsimisaraka , Tsimihety , Antaisaka , Sakalava ), French , Indian , Creole , Comorian , Chinese Malagasy (official, and national language), French (official). definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2018 est.) Zebu The zebu ( / ˈ z iː b ( j ) uː , ˈ z eɪ b uː / ; Bos indicus ), sometimes known in
2709-419: The household must pay for them in zebu and food. Carrying out the various ceremonies and tomb construction can take a year or more, during which time the wife of the deceased must stay with the corpse in the deceased's home. His oldest son is responsible for procuring the vatolahy - upright stone markers up to two meters tall that form part of the tomb structure - while his daughters are responsible for procuring
2772-505: The island. Zebu are wrestled by young men in a competitive ritual of courtship called tolon'omby . Within the Indian state of Tamil Nadu , zebu are used for jallikattu . In 1999, researchers at Texas A&M University successfully cloned a zebu. Zebu are venerated in Hinduism of India. In the historical Vedic religion they were a symbol of plenty. In later times they gradually acquired their present status. According to
2835-526: The like. Zebu, mostly miniature zebu , are kept as pets . In India, the number of draft cattle in 1998 was estimated at 65.7 million head. Zebu cows commonly have low production of milk. They do not produce milk until maturation later in their lives and do not produce much. When zebus are crossed with taurine cattle, milk production generally increases. In Madagascar , zebu outnumber people, and there are an "astonishing" 6,813 Malagasy proverbs, common sayings, and expressions referring to zebu in parlance on
2898-556: The living and the razana (ancestors); by 2020, only 4.5% of Malagasies exclusively practised folk religions and 85% were Christian (according to the Pew Research Center ). The Association of Religion Data Archives noted that in 2020, 58.1% of the population is Christian , 2.1% is Muslim and 39.2% practices traditional faiths, while 0.6% of the population is non-religious or adheres to other faiths. Madagascar's traditional religions tend to emphasize links between
2961-428: The living and the dead. They believe that the dead join their ancestors in the ranks of divinity and that ancestors are intensely concerned with the fate of their living descendants. This spiritual communion is celebrated by the Merina and Betsileo reburial practice of famadihana , or "turning over the dead". In this ritual, relatives' remains are removed from the family tomb, rewrapped in new silk shrouds, and returned to
3024-442: The most powerful chief during the establishment of the Maroserana dynasty, Tsileliky ("not conquerable"); the descendants of Tsileliky's companions and favored subjects; and particular individuals (or their descendants) who had received a royal favor. The king was supported by a councillor ( ombiasy ) as well as a priest ( mpisoro ) who was responsible for conducting animal sacrifices at the communal altar ( hangomaza-lava ). The society
3087-602: The neighboring Antandroy people to the west resulted in the annexation of the Antandroy province of Karimbola in the first half of the 18th century. Although the specifics of the history of these kingdoms before 1800 is not well known, the frequent changes in rulers within each kingdom points to instability and turmoil within the Maroserana dynasty: Linta had seven rulers, Sakatovo had six, Menarandra had three between 1750-1800, and Onilahy had two. The Onilahy kingdom reflected some Antemoro influences, such as calling their king by
3150-574: The overall health of the animal and in return may also affect the gestation period. The zebu is susceptible to nagana as it does not exhibit trypanotolerance . It is said to be resilient to parasites. Zebu are very common in much of Asia, including Pakistan, India, Nepal , Bangladesh and China. In Asia, taurine cattle are mainly found in the northern regions such as Japan , Korea , northern China and Mongolia . In China, taurine cattle are most common in northern breeds, zebu more common in southern breeds, with hybrids in between. Geneticists at
3213-586: The paid services of French mercenaries to help fight the Masikoro people who had stolen their king's cattle. The Mahafaly polity began to splinter into independent kingdoms beginning around 1650 with the Sakatovo and Menarandra kingdoms. The Linta kingdom split away around two decades later, and the Onilahy kingdom was formed from the remaining territory around 1750. A conflict between the king of Menarandra and
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#17327766546793276-665: The plural as indicine cattle , Camel cow or humped cattle , is a species or subspecies of domestic cattle originating in South Asia . Zebu, like many Sanga cattle breeds, differs from taurine cattle by a fatty hump on their shoulders, a large dewlap , and sometimes drooping ears. They are well adapted to withstanding high temperatures and are farmed throughout the tropics . Zebu are used as draught and riding animals , dairy cattle and beef cattle , as well as for byproducts such as hides and dung for fuel and manure . Some small breeds such as Nadudana also known as
3339-402: The politically and economically advantaged highlanders of the central plateaux and the people along the coast. For example, in the 1970s there was widespread opposition among coastal ethnics against the policy of "Malagasization" which intended to phase out the use of the French language in public life in favour of a more prominent position for the Malagasy language , whose orthography is based on
3402-444: The population. Madagascar 's population is predominantly of mixed Austronesian and East African origin. Since the country's independence in 1960, three general census of population and dwellings (RGPH) have been conducted by the national statistics office INSTAT under the supervision of the ministry of economy. The first census in 1975 counted 7.4 million Malagasy people , the second one in 1993 censused 12.3 million citizens and
3465-649: The predominantly Catholic masses, considered to be underprivileged, and the predominantly Protestant Merina aristocrats, who tend to prevail in the civil service, business, and professions. Followers of Islam constitute approximately 3% of the population in 2022, according to the US Department of State; there are also small numbers of Hindus and Jews . The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had more than 13,000 members in 42 congregations in Madagascar in 2013. A small community started practicing Judaism in 2010, and formally converted in 2016 with
3528-620: The shoulders, large dewlaps and droopy ears. Compared to taurine cattle, the zebu is well adapted to the hot tropical savanna climate and steppe environments. These adaptations result in higher tolerance for drought, heat and sunlight exposure. Studies on the natural weaning of zebu cattle have shown that cows wean their calves over a 2-week period, but after that, continue to show strong affiliatory behavior with their offspring and preferentially choose them for grooming and as grazing partners for at least 4–5 years. Zebu are generally mature enough to give birth when they are 29 months old. This
3591-458: The stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed
3654-403: The territory, the chief of that land was put to death. Kings had the power to place a taboo on certain words that could never be spoken again by members of the community. As in much of Madagascar, the Mahafaly bury their dead in tombs. The tombs of family members were historically located in sacred forest areas far from the houses of the living, although due to deforestation and other factors this
3717-610: The title andrianony . The Mahafaly kingdom was one of the few that did not come under the control of the Merina Kingdom in the 19th century. The last Mahafaly king was Tsiampondy, who began ruling in 1890. According to Africa from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Century , Tsiampondy's reign ended in 1911, while according to a French document named Observations sur les Mahafalys , Tsiampondy's reign ended after
3780-459: The tomb following festive ceremonies in their honor. In the festivities, they eat, drink, and literally dance with the dead. After one or two days of celebrating, they shower the body with gifts and rebury it. Malagasy Christians are roughly 50% Catholic and 50% Protestant (mainly Reformed Protestant Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM) , Lutheran , and Anglican ) or Roman Catholic , but there are also smaller groups such as members of
3843-508: The victors; as the Maroserana came to power, they allowed the Andriantileliky to retain certain privileges and special status. After reigning for some years, Olembetsitoto went into seclusion. His followers believed that he had become holy ( faly ) and made his land and people holy ( maha-faly ) through this act, which mirrored popular belief around the principal Maroserana deity Andriamaro, which could not be seen, communicated through
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#17327766546793906-399: Was divided into numerous clans, some of which held particular responsibilities such as blacksmithing and honey collecting. Heads of these clans were elected under the title of "royal friend" ( rainitsy ny mpanjaka ) and had an official councillor ( ondaty-be ) similar to the king himself. Only the heads of clans and the king were authorized to carry a large iron spear ( beraha ), which served as
3969-596: Was probably uninhabited prior to Austronesian settlement in the early centuries AD. Austronesian (particularly Malay ) features are most predominant in the central highlands peoples, while coastal peoples are phenotypically more East African , sometimes with minor Arab, Somali, European and Indian admixtures. The largest coastal groups are the Betsimisaraka (1,500,000) and the Tsimihety and Sakalava (700,000 each). Malagasy society has long been polarized between
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