Madagascar became a French protectorate in 1885, ending the reign of the Malagasy Monarchy. The country remained under French control, becoming an overseas territory of France in 1946. Madagascar became an independent country 1960, after a long period of struggle.
The Malagasy way of life reflects various ethnic influences, which have evolved into one unique culture. Madagascar is home to settlers of Indonesian, African, French and Indian backgrounds. It also has 18 official tribes. Although each group has its own identity, they are uniformly Malagasy. There is a rich tradition here of folklore and superstition. People revere the ancestors and large funeral rituals are common. Malagasy society is fairly conservative and social institutions and customs are followed rigidly.
Madagascar is the world’s fourth largest island. It is situated in the Indian Ocean, near the south-eastern coast of Africa. Geographically, the Hauts Plateau runs from east to west, dividing the island. Lowland coastal strips encircle the plateau on either side. The islands of Juan de Nova, Europa, the Glorioso Islands, Tromelin, and Bassas da India are also part of Malagasy territory.
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