Madagascar

There is a sudden interest in American culture and European popular culture, which is eroding the more traditional culture, and especially the music. Reggaeton is more accepted within the country nowadays. Salegy is a popular music form. Puerto Ricans have claimed reggaeton as their own ^[10] partly due to the fact that the movement was originally anti-establishment, with the government attempting to ban the perreo ("doggystyle") dance. Muslims are divided between those of Malagasy ethnicity, Indo-Pakistanis, and Comorians. The Puerto Rican influence in reggaeton has involved the addition of hip hop to the Panamanian reggae style. In the coastal regions of the provinces of Mahajanga and Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Muslims constitute a significant minority. Reggaeton as it is known today is most commonly associated with Puerto Rico where it has really flourished and from where it has been spread around Latin America and the world.

The best example of this is the Malagasy Council of Churches (FFKM) comprised of the four oldest and most prominent christian denominations (Roman Catholic, Reformed Protestant, Lutheran and Anglican). Today Reggaeton continues to see growth, with new artists and new fans in regions across the world. Many of the Christian churches are influential in politics. Reggaeton has become staple music in most reunions and parties across Venezuela, complementing the common mix of merengue, salsa and "changa" (mostly everything from Trance to House, electronic music) and has paved a huge fan base all across the country. The Roman Catholic church is open to its members continuing these practices, while more conservative protestant denominations tend to condemn them to be superstitions or demon worship that should be abandoned. Brian), domestic "reggaetoneros" have arisen, expanding the Pan-latin feel of the genre. They also may invite a pastor to attend a famadihana. In some countries (such as Venezuela, with Calle Ciega, Doble Impakto and Mr.

Many incorporate the cult of the dead with their religious beliefs and bless their dead at church before proceeding with the traditional burial rites. Reggaeton has been a huge hit all across the globe, especially in Latin American countries, such as the Caribbean nations like Colombia, Venezuela, and in some Central American countries. About 45% of the Malagasy are Christian, divided almost evenly between Roman Catholics and Protestants. Another important artist that contribuited to gain popularity to reggaeton, especially in Europe, is Don Omar, with singles like 'Pobre Diabla' and 'Dale Don Dale'. In this ritual, relatives' remains are removed from the family tomb, rewrapped in new silk shrouds, and returned to the tomb following festive ceremonies in their honor. introducing the genre on to mainstream America with the song Oye Mi Canto, and when Daddy Yankee came out with his album Barrio Fino and his hit single Gasolina. The Merina and Betsileo reburial practice of famadihana, or "turning over the dead" celebrate this spiritual communion. This has been due to N.O.R.E.

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. 2004 was the year that reggaeton gained widespread popularity in the United States, eventually gaining attention in many 'Western' countries. The Merina in the highlands particularly tend to hold tightly to this practice. Albums such as Mas Flow, The Last Don, and Las Gargolas 4 expanded reggaeton's popularity among Hispanics in the United States. Approximately half of the country's population practices traditional religions, which tend to emphasize links between the living and the dead. Many now popular producers, such as Noreaga, Luny Tunes, and Eliel, first appeared in the reggaeton scene in 2003. Many Peace Corps volunteers are serving to further this effort and train teachers. Singers like Don Chezina, Master Joe, Mey Vidal, Baby Rasta Y Gringo, Polaco among others were very popular.

English is becoming more widely spoken and in 2003 the government began a pilot project of introducing the teaching of English into the primary grades of 44 schools, with hopes of taking the project nationwide. In the mid 90s albums like Playero 37 (In which Daddy Yankee became known) and The Noise 5 and 6 were very popular in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. French is spoken among the educated population of this former French colony. Reggaeton expanded and became known when other producers followed the steps of DJ Playero, like DJ Nelson and DJ Eric. The Malagasy language is of Malayo-Polynesian origin and is generally spoken throughout the island. From there on reggaeton gained fans with songs such as Amor Con La Ropa by Speedy, No Puedo Estar Sin Sexo by Plan B, and Dembow by Yandel. The largest coastal groups are the Betsimisaraka (1.5 million) and the Tsimihety and Sakalava (700,000 each). The first song which introduced Reggaeton to a big amount of fans is the song Tra Tra by Don Chezina.

Asian features are most predominant in the central highlands people, the Merina (3 million) and the Betsileo (2 million); the coastal people (called côtiers) are of more clearly African origin. Reggaeton soon increased in popularity with Latino youth in the United States when DJ Blass worked with artists such as Plan B and Speedy in albums such as Reggaeton Sex. Subsequent migrations from both the Pacific and Africa further consolidated this original mixture, and 36 separate tribal groups emerged. Today, the music flourishes throughout Latin America. The Malagasy language shares some 90% of its basic vocabulary with the Maanyan language from the region of the Barito River in southern Borneo. The name was reportedly created in Puerto Rico to signify the hybrid sound created from the years of mixing the different genres. Recent DNA research shows that the Malagasy are approximately of half Malay and half East African stock, although some Arab, Indian and European influence is present along the coast. The name reggaeton only gained prominence in the mid-1990s (from the 1994 to 1995 period), with the Dem Bow beat characterizing the genre; this is in contrast to the more reggae, dancehall and hip hop -derived tracks previously created.

Recent research suggests that the island was uninhabited until Malay seafarers arrived between about 2,000 to 1,500 years ago. The beat and rhythm from this song became the eventual background for the developing genre; at one point the genre became known as Dem Bow. Madagascar's population is predominantly of mixed Asian and African origin, though those who are visibly Asian in appearance and culture are the minority, found in the highland regions. A breakthrough was by the Jamaican artist Shabba Ranks who released a track Dem Bow in the early 1990s. He has consciously sought to strengthen relations with Anglophone countries as a means of balancing traditionally strong French influence. The genre morphed through the years, at various points being termed Melaza, musica underground and reggae de Puerto Rico. President Ravalomanana has stated that he welcomes relations with all countries interested in helping Madagascar to develop. DJ Playero was one of the most famous producers at the time, releasing several "underground" cassettes that featured early performances of some soon-to-be-famous artists like Daddy Yankee.

More recently, President Ravalomanana has cultivated strong links with the United States, and Madagascar was the first country to benefit from the Millenium Challenge Account (MCA). The 'under' scene widened when Puerto Rican and Cuban styles mixed with Panamanian-style reggae. Active relationships with Europe, especially France, Germany, and Switzerland, as well as with Britain, Russia, Japan, India, and China have been strong since independence. These are considered the first proper reggaeton tracks, initially called "under", a short form of "Underground". It enjoys closer and generally good relations with its Indian Ocean neighbors -- Mauritius, Réunion, and Comoros. Towards the middle of the decade, Puerto Ricans were producing their own "riddims" with clear influences from hip hop and other styles. External relations reflect this trend, although Madagascar's physical isolation and strong traditional insular orientation have limited its activity in regional economic organizations and relations with its East African neighbors. It was common practice to translate the lyrics of Jamaican reggae song into Spanish and sing them over the original melodies.

Starting in 1997, globalization encouraged the government and President Ratsiraka to adhere to market-oriented policies and to engage world markets. During the 1990s reggae production took off seriously in Panama; this also occurred separately in Puerto Rico due to the increased popularity of Jamaican ragga imports. Early in his tenure, he established formal ties with South Korea and sent emissaries to Morocco. At this point the two main influences of the genre were in place, as well as the two main producing countries. Taking office in 1993, President Albert Zafy expressed his desire for diplomatic relations with all countries. His production of cassettes throughout the 1980s, mixing reggae and hip hop, helped spread the early reggaeton sound, and he is widely credited with this achievement. From 1978 until 1991, then-President Ratsiraka emphasized independence and nonalignment and followed an "all points" policy stressing ties with socialist and radical regimes, including North Korea, Cuba, Libya, and Iran. Meanwhile, during the 1980s the Puerto Rican rapper Vico C released Spanish-language hip hop records in his native country.

Madagascar, which has historically been perceived as on the margin of mainstream African affairs, eagerly rejoined the African Union in July 2003 after a 14-month hiatus triggered by the 2002 political crisis. El General has been identified as one of the fathers of reggaeton, blending Jamaican reggae into a Latin-ised version. A large mining investment by Rio Tinto in the Fort Dauphin region, to exploit ilmenite (titanium dioxide), is expected by late 2005, and other projects in ilmenite (Ticor/Kumba in Tulear) and nickel (Dynatec/Implats near Tamatave) could also be launched in the coming months. Artists such as El General, Nando Boom, Chicho Man, Rene Renegado, Black Apache are considered the first raggamuffin deejays from Panama. Mining investment is beginning to take off following the introduction of a new law opening the country up to foreign mining companies. Reportedly, Reggae is said first to have arrived in Latin America with Jamaican labourers who came to help build the Panama Canal in the early 20th Century. Agricultural exports consist of low volume high value products like vanilla, litchies and essential oils. The birthplace of the music genre is a subject of debate between those who believe it was started in Panama and those who believe it originated in Puerto Rico ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]}, however, it is known that the first Latin American reggae recordings were made in Panama during the 1970s.

Exports from the EPZs, located around Antananarivo and Antsirabe, consist the most part of garment manufacture, targeting the US market under AGOA and the European markets under the Everything But Arms (EBA) agreement. It has been heavily influenced by other forms of electronic dance music, such as techno, house, and genres such as the merengue hip hop (also called merenhouse) of groups such as Proyecto Uno and Zona 7. Tourism targets the niche eco-tourism market, capitalizing on Madagascar's unique biodiversity, unspoiled natural habitats, and lemur species. This beat is called "Dem Bow" after the beat in a Shabba Ranks song of the same name. Madagascar's sources of growth are tourism; textile and light manufacturing exports (notably through the EPZs); agricultural products (the country is the world's leading producer of vanilla, accounting for about half the world's export market); and mining. The genre's most notably unique feature is a driving drum-machine track, almost identical across different songs, derived from Trinidadian soca music and Jamaican dancehall rhythms. Some recent concerns have arisen about the confict of interest between the policies pursued by President and the activities his firms, most notably with preferential treatment for rice imports initiated by the government in late 2004 responding to a production shortfall in the country. .

President Ravalomanana rose to prominence through his agro-foods TIKO company, and is known for attempting to apply many of the lessons learned in the world of business to running the government. Further controversy surrounds perreo, a dance with explicit sexual overtones which typically accompanies reggaeton music. The government of President Ravalomanana is aggressively seeking foreign investment and is tackling many of the obstacles to such investment, including combating corruption, reforming land-ownership laws, encouraging study of American and European business techniques, and active pursuit of foreign investors. Like hip hop, reggaeton has caused controversy due to its often explicit lyrics and alleged exploitation of women ^[1]. The U.S.-Madagascar Business Council was formed in the United States in May 2003, and the two organizations continue to explore ways to work for the benefit of both groups. Reggaeton lyrics tend to be more derived from hip hop than dancehall. Business Council was formed in Madagascar in 2002. Reggaeton's distinguishing feature is the Dem Bow beat (alternately spelled Dembow), which originated in a song by Shabba Ranks in the mid-1990s.

The Madagascar-U.S. While it takes influences from hip hop and dancehall, it would be wrong to define reggaeton as the 'Spanish'- or 'Latino'- version of either of these genres; reggaeton has its own specific beat and rhythm, whereas Latino hip hop is simply hip hop recorded by artists of Latino descent. In October 2004, the boards of the IMF and the World Bank determined that Madagascar had reached the completion point under the enhanced HIPC Initiative. Reggaeton has empowered the Spanish Caribbean youth, specifically those of Puerto Rico, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, as well as the Latin American audience and the Latino communities in the United States, with a musical genre as a voice. The boards of the IMF and World Bank agreed in December 2000 that the country had reached the decision point for debt relief under the HIPC Initiative and defined a set of conditions for Madagascar to reach the completion point. The music is also combined with rapping (generally) in Spanish. In 2000, Madagascar embarked on the preparation of a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. Reggaeton (also spelled with the Spanish accent as Reggaetón, and sometimes as Reguetón in Spanish) - blends Jamaican music influences of reggae and dancehall with those of Latin America, such as bomba and plena, as well as that of hip hop.

The Malagasy Government identified road infrastructure as its principle priority and underlined its commitment to public-private partnership by establishing a joint public-private sector steering committee. Reggaeton is a form of dance music which became popular with Latin American youth during the late 1990s and spread to North American and European audiences during the first few years of the 21st century. Donor countries demonstrated their confidence in the new government by pledging $1 billion in assistance over five years. Madagascar developed a recovery plan in collaboration with the private sector and donors and presented it at a "Friends of Madagascar" conference organized by the World Bank in Paris in July 2002. Following the 2002 political crisis, the government attempted to set a new course and build confidence, in coordination with international financial institutions and the donor community.

In 2005 inflation was brought under control by tight monetary policy (the "Taux Directeur", or central bank rate, was raised to 16% and reserve requirements for banks tightened), and growth will reach around 6.5% in 2005. Currency depreciation and rising inflation in 2004 have hampered economic performance, but growth for the year reached 5.3 percent, with inflation reaching around 25% at the end of the year. Following resolution of the crisis, the economy rebounded with GDP growth of over 10% in 2003. Real GDP dropped 12.7% for the year 2002, inflows of foreign investment dropped sharply, and the crisis tarnished Madagascar's budding reputation as an AGOA standout and a promising place to invest.

A six-month political crisis triggered by a dispute over the outcome of the presidential elections held in December 2001 virtually halted economic activity in much of the country in the first half of 2002. During the period of solid growth from 1997 through 2001, poverty levels remained stubbornly high, especially in rural areas. Although structural reforms advanced, governance remained weak and perceived corruption in Madagascar was extremely high. A period of significant stagnation from 1991-96 was followed by 5 years of solid economic growth and accelerating foreign investment, driven by a second wave of privatizations and EPZ development.

An initial privatization program (1988-1993) and the development of an export processing zone (EPZ) regime in the early 1990s were key milestones in this effort. Structural reforms began in the late 1980s, initially under pressure from international financial institutions, notably the World Bank. The eastern, or windward side of the island is home to tropical rainforests, while the western and southern sides of the island, which lie in the rain shadow of the central highlands, are home to tropical dry forests, thorn forests, and deserts and xeric shrublands. Madagascar's long isolation from the neighboring continents has resulted in a unique mix of plants and animals, many found nowhere else in the world; some ecologists refer to Madagascar as the "eighth continent".

Southeastern trade winds dominate, and there are occasional cyclones. There are two seasons: it is hot and rainy from November to April, and cooler and dry from May to October. The west coast has many protected harbors and broad plains, while the southwest is a plateau and desert region. The Tsaratanana Massif in the north has volcanic mountains.

The east coast of Madagascar has lowlands leading to steep bluffs and central highlands. The 22 regions by province:. They are:. Madagascar is divided into six autonomous provinces (faritany mizakatena), each named for their capital.

It appears that the departments will be based on the Fivondronampokontany, although it is unclear whether they are already in place and what it means that the assets will be taken over by the regions. The departments are not mentioned in the law, instead the designation "components" of the regions is used. It is also mentioned that the communes are the only entities that are operational, and there will be an unspecified period of transition to the new system. The regions will also take over the assets of the "ex-Fivondronampokontany".

Although they are subdivisions of the provinces, they are representatives (and representing the people) of the republic, not the province. Meanwhile the 28 regions originally proposed had become 22. 2004-001. In 2004, the regions were finally created by the national assembly in law no.

This effectively means that the autonomous provinces have ceased to exist as such, although it remains unclear whether they will remain in place. The new president, Ravalomanana, replaced the provincial governments by special delegations, appointed by the president. During the power struggle after the presidential elections in 2001, five of those provinces, whose governors supported Ratsiraka, declared themselves independent from the republic. The autonomous provinces, having the same names and territories as the already existing provinces, were created in 2000.

With Didier Ratsiraka back in power, the constitution was changed in 1998, to include and specifically mention six autonomous provinces, divided into undefined regions and communes. The communes were created in 1996. In the law passed by the national assembly in 1994, three such entity levels were defined: region (faritra), department (departemanta) and commune (kaominina). The name, number, and limits of territorial entities should be determined by law.

The constitution of 1992 ruled that the country should be organized in decentralized territorial entities. During the second republic, the country was divided into five levels:. Madagascar is also part of the Indian Ocean Commission. The Constitutional Court approves the constitutionality of new laws.

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 president can dissolve the National Assembly. The prime minister and members of Parliament initiate legislation, and the government executes it. The president appoints the prime minister.

A prime minister and council of ministers carries out day-to-day management of government. The Senate consists of 90 senators, two-thirds elected by local legislators and other Grand Electors and one-third appointed by the president, all for 6-year terms. The last election was held in December 2002. The National Assembly consists of 160 representatives elected by direct vote every 5 years.

The president is elected by direct universal suffrage for a 5-year term, renewable twice. The principal institutions of the Republic of Madagascar are a presidency, a parliament (National Assembly and Senate), a prime ministry and cabinet, and an independent judiciary. In March 1998, Malagasy voters approved a revised Constitution. Financing and specific powers for the regional administrations remain to be clarified.

In September 2004, the Government named 22 Regional Chiefs, reporting directly to the President, to implement its decentralization plans. Subsequent legislation established a structure of 22 regions to decentralize administration. Following the crisis of 2002, the President replaced provincial governors with appointed PDSs (Presidents des Delegations Speciales). November 2003 municipal elections were conducted freely, returning a majority of supporters of the president, but also significant numbers of independent and regional opposition figures.

December 2002 legislative elections gave his newly formed TIM (Tiako-I-Madagasikara) (I Love Madagascar) Party a commanding majority in the National Assembly. After the end of the 2002 political crisis, President Ravalomanana began many reform projects, forcefully advocating "rapid and durable development" and the launching of a battle against corruption. Ratsiraka is from the coastal Betsimisaraka tribe and Ravalomanana comes from the highland Merina tribe. In addition to political differences, ethnic differences played a role in the crisis and continue to play a role in politics.

Sporadic violence and considerable economic disruption continued until July 2002 when Ratsiraka and several of his prominent supporters fled to exile in France. A political crisis followed in which Ratsiraka supporters cut major transport routes from the primary port city to the capital city, a stronghold of Ravalomanana support. Marc Ravalomanana contested the results and claimed victory. The Ministry of the Interior declared incumbent Ratsiraka of the AREMA party victorious.

In December 2001, a presidential election was held in which both major candidates claimed victory. A National Assembly dominated by members of President Ratsiraka'a political party AREMA subsequently passed the 1998 Constitution, which considerably strengthened the presidency. After President Zafy's impeachment by the National Assembly in 1996 and the short quasi-presidency of Norbert Ratsirahonana, the 1997 elections once again pitted Zafy and Ratsiraka, with Ratsiraka this time emerging victorious. Zafy was sworn in as President on March 27, 1993.

Runoff elections were held in February 1993, and the leader of the Hery Velona movement, Albert Zafy, defeated Ratsiraka. Presidential elections were held on November 25, 1992, after the High Constitutional Court had ruled, over Hery Velona objections, that Ratsiraka could become a candidate. The text of the new Constitution was put to a nationwide referendum in August 1992 and approved by a wide margin, despite efforts by federalists to disrupt balloting in several coastal areas. Troops guarding the proceedings clashed with pro-Ratsiraka "federalists" who tried to disrupt the forum in protest of draft constitutional provisions preventing the incumbent president from running again.

In March 1992, a widely representative National Forum organized by the FFKM (Malagasy Christian Council of Churches) drafted a new Constitution. The High Constitutional Court was retained as the ultimate judicial arbiter of the process. The resulting "Panorama Convention" of October 31, 1991, stripped Ratsiraka of nearly all of his powers, created interim institutions, and set an 18-month timetable for completing a transition to a new form of constitutional government. In an increasingly weakened position, Ratsiraka acceded to negotiations on the formation of a transitional government.

In response to largely peaceful mass demonstrations and crippling general strikes, Ratsiraka replaced his prime minister in August 1991 but suffered an irreparable setback soon thereafter when his troops fired on peaceful demonstrators marching on Iavoloha, the suburban presidential palace, killing more than 30. A number of already existing political parties and their leaders, among them Albert Zafy and Rakotoniaina Manandafy, anchored this movement which was especially strong in Antananarivo and the surrounding high plateau. These, along with political reforms like the elimination of press censorship in 1989 and the formation of more political parties in 1990, were insufficient to placate a growing opposition movement known as Hery Velona ("Active Forces"). In response to a deteriorating economy, Ratsiraka relaxed socialist economic policies and instituted some liberal, private-sector reforms.

With an easing of restrictions on political expression, beginning in the late 1980s, the Ratsiraka regime came under increasing pressure to make fundamental changes. For much of this period, only limited and restrained political opposition was tolerated, with no direct criticism of the president permitted in the press. National elections in 1982 and 1989 returned Ratsiraka for a second and third 7-year presidential term. During this period a strategy of nationalization of private enterprises, centralization of the economy and "Malgasization" of the education system crippled the economy, leaving traces even today of a highly centralized economic system and a high level of illiteracy.

During the 16 subsequent years of President Ratsiraka's rule, Madagascar continued under a government committed to revolutionary socialism based on the 1975 Constitution establishing a highly centralized state. A provisional military directorate then ruled until a new government was formed in June 1975, under Didier Ratsiraka. Richard Ratsimandrava, who was assassinated 6 days later. Col.

Gabriel Ramanantsoa, resigned on February 5, 1975, handing over executive power to Lt. The unrest continued, and Tsiranana's successor, Gen. However, he resigned only 2 months later in response to massive antigovernment demonstrations. Madagascar's first President, Philibert Tsiranana, was elected when his Social Democratic Party gained power at independence in 1960 and was reelected without opposition in March 1972.

A period of provisional government ended with the adoption of a constitution in 1959 and full independence on June 26, 1960. The Malagasy Republic was proclaimed on October 14, 1958, as an autonomous state within the French Community. The French subsequently established reformed institutions in 1956 under the Loi Cadre (Overseas Reform Act), and Madagascar moved peacefully toward independence. In 1947, with French prestige at low ebb, a nationalist uprising was suppressed after several months of bitter fighting.

The Free French received the island from the United Kingdom in 1943. British troops occupied the strategic island in 1942 to preclude its seizure by the Japanese. After France fell to Germany, the Vichy government administered Madagascar. Action on the plan was never begun.

Immediately preceding the fall of France, Germany initiated planning to forcibly deport all of Europe's Jews to Madagascar in what was known as the Madagascar Plan. During World War II, Malagasy troops fought in France, Morocco, and Syria. Before leaving port the Russian sailors were required to put ashore the animals they had acquired, including monkeys, boa constrictors and one crocodile. In December 1904, the Russian Baltic Fleet stopped at Diego Suarez for coal and provisions before sailing on to its doomed encounter with the Japanese Fleet in the Battle of Tsushima.

Absolute French control over Madagascar was established by military force in 1895-1896, and the Merina monarchy was abolished. The British accepted the imposition of a French protectorate over Madagascar in 1885 in return for eventual control over Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) and as part of an overall definition of spheres of influence in the area. British influence remained strong for several decades, during which the Merina court was converted to Presbyterianism, Congregationalism, and Anglicanism. In return, the island received British military and financial assistance.

In 1817, the Merina ruler and the British governor of Mauritius concluded a treaty abolishing the slave trade, which had been important in Madagascar's economy. Beginning in the 1790s, Merina rulers succeeded in establishing hegemony over the major part of the island, including the coast. For a short time the Betsimisaraka of the east coast also unified, but this unification was short lived. But with the domination of the Indian Ocean by the British fleet and the end of the Arab slave trade, the Sakalava would lose their power to the emerging Merina threat.

The influence of the Sakalava extended across what is now the provinces of Antsiranana, Mahajanga and Toliara. Among these were the Sakalava chiefdoms of the Menabe, centered in what is now the town of Morondava, and of Boina, centered in what is now the provincial capital of Mahajanga (Majunga). Large chiefdoms began to dominate considerable areas of the island. During the Middle Ages, the chiefs of the different settlements on the island began to extend their power through trade with Madagascar's Indian Ocean neighbors, notably North Africa, the Middle-east and India.

From about 1774 to 1824, it was a favorite haunt for pirates, including Americans, one of whom brought Malagasy rice to South Carolina. In the late 17th century, the French established trading posts along the east coast. European contact began in the 1500s, when Portuguese sea captain Diego Dias sighted the island after his ship became separated from a fleet going to India. The written history of Madagascar began in the 7th century, when Arabs established trading posts along the northwest coast.

. The adjective and noun (language, ethnicity and citizenship) derived from Madagascar is Malagasy. Among its most notable examples of biodiversity are the lemur family of primates, three endemic bird families and its baobab trees. It is the home of five percent of the world's plant and animal species, 80 percent of them unique to Madagascar.

The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth largest island in the world. The Republic of Madagascar, or Madagascar, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa. Transportation in Madagascar. Military of Madagascar.

Foreign relations of Madagascar. Communications in Madagascar. US State Department [2]. CIA World Factbook [1].

American Journal of Human Genetics, 76:894-901, 2005.. The Dual Origin of the Malagasy in Island Southeast Asia and East Africa: Evidence from Maternal and Paternal Lineages. Hules, et al (2005). Matthew E.

According to the latest census data, the majority of Malagasy citizens (about 52%) practice indigenous religious beliefs rather than world religions. The situation reversed itself when the company reintroduced its classic formula. The Malagasy economy took a brief downturn during the 1980s when Coca-Cola, the world's leading purchaser of vanilla, switched to the New Coke formula that contained synthetic vanillin. Both nations instead use multiples of five.

Madagascar and Mauritania are the only countries in the world not to use decimal-based currency. List of writers from Madagascar. Music of Madagascar. Tootiorou.

Menabe. Tasimo Andrefana. Anosy. Androy.

Toliara