This post describes the culture of Madagascar and further more discusses the cultural heritage and the heritage sites of Madagascar.
INTRODUCTION
The culture of Madagascar is rooted in diverse tribal heritages and customs, with ancestor respect and traditional festivals at its heart. The sites of natural and cultural heritage in Madagascar became eligible for inclusion on the list when that state ratified the convention on July 19, 1983.
The first site in Madagascar, the Strict Nature Reserve of the Tsingy of Bemaraha, was inscribed on the list as a site of natural importance at the 14th Session of the Heritage Committee, held in Banff, Canada in 1990.This was followed by the 2001 inscription of the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, a historic village and royal palace compound of cultural importance featuring well-preserved 19th-century palaces and numerous other natural and architectural features of historic, political and spiritual significance to the Malagasy people.
Read: REGIONS IN MADAGASCAR
Most recently, in 2007 the natural site of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana was added to the list, comprising a cluster of six national parks distinguished by their highly endemic biodiversity. A fourth site, the capital of the 19th century Merina sovereigns of Madagascar at the Rova of Antananarivo, had originally been slated to become the nation’s first cultural World Heritage Site in 1995 but was destroyed by a fire shortly before the inscription was finalized. In addition to Madagascar’s three established sites, a further seven sites are listed as tentative and are under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for elevation to official status. Five initial sites were inscribed on the tentative list in 1997: the Betafo Riziculture and Hydraulic Landscape, the Royal Compound of Tsinjoarivo), the Mahafaly Country of Southwestern Madagascar, the Cliff and Caves of Isandra, and Antongona. In 2008, two additional sites were added to the list: Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve (an extension of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana) and the Dry Forests of the Andrefana. UNESCO placed the Rainforests of the Atsinanana on the list of World Heritage in Danger on July 30, 2010 following an increase in illegal logging in the parks since 2009 as a consequence of the 2009-2013 political crises in Madagascar.
HERITAGE SITES IN MADAGASCAR
Ambohimanga Royal Hill
Ambohimanga Royal Hill is considered to be the most significant symbol of cultural identity of Merina ethnic group. It is also said to be the most well-preserved monument of the Kingdom of Imerina. There are burial sites of several monarchs and residence surrounded by a wall. Ambohimana is derived from two words in the Malagasy language. Ambohi means hill while Manga means sacred, good, or beautiful. When put together, the Ambohimanga means a sacred hill. The earliest settlers in the Central Madagascar highlands were the Vanzimba ethnic group in 200 BC. The Merina arrived later in the 15thcentury and established simple villages in the hilltops. The hills were surrounded by the Vanzimba and surrounded the Merina settlements without any conflicts.
Atsnana Rainforests
These are six national parks which were inscribed in 2007. There are 13 specific areas which were inscribed. The national parks are; Marojejy National Park, Masoala National Park, Zahamena National Park, Ranomafana National Park, Andringitra National Park, and Andohahela National Park. Madagascar is believed to have separated from the other land mass over 60 million years ago and hence its flora and fauna has evolved in isolation. The rainforests support plant and animal life which are rare and threatened. The biodiversity of plant and animal life together with the presence of a vast number of endemic and endangered wildlife justifies its inscription.
Tsingy De Bemeraha Strict Nature Reserve
The name Tsingy is derived from the Malagasy language and implies a place where one cannot walk barefooted. It is a karstic plateau which was formed as a result of groundwater cutting the elevated uplands. Vertical and horizontal erosion patterns have led to the creation of forest like needles of limestone. Apart from this geomorphologic wonder, the site is home to extreme endemism of flora and fauna which are only found in very small niches within the Tsingys.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE HERITAGE SITES
The heritage sites in Madagascar are the main tourist attraction sites in the country. Since their inscription a UNESCO World Heritage sites, they have seen an upsurge in the number of tourists and this has increased the income of the country. These sites have also helped in maintaining the environment especially the Tsingy de Bemeraha nature reserve and the Atsana rainforests. The Atsana rainforests are home to rich endemic and endangered organisms. The Ambohimanga royal hill has helped to preserve the rich culture of the Imerina community.