Madagascar:
Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, roughly twice the size of Arizona. It lies off the coast of Africa in the Indian ocean. Madagascar was ruled by monarchs until the late, late 1800's when it was captured by the French. Madagascar's current form of government is multiparty republic. The current president was elected in 2013, his name is Hery Rajoanarimampianina. Madagascar is not completely safari despite what the popular children's movie suggests. Much of the land in Madagascar is residential. The capital of Madagascar is Antananarivo.
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Religions of Madagascar:
Madagascar has a diverse range of religions alike many other African cultures. 5% of the people are Muslim. Alike many parts of Africa Madagascar was under the rule of imperialistic Europeans leading to 40% of the population being Christian.Christianity was first introduced to the people of Madagascar in the early 1900's. 55% of the people in Madagascar abide by traditional beliefs. Traditional religions tended to practice ancestor worship. Another common belief among the traditional religions is the belief that the soul is immortal. Many times throughout our trip, We saw historic landmarks that showed some of the ancient and modern religions. When we were in the city of Antananarivo we passed cathedrals and churches that showed the Christian influence on the island.
Traditional foods in Madagascar:
Finding a place with traditional Madagascar cuisine proved to be a challenge. In modern Madagascar it is common to find a wide array of different cultures cuisine. They sell pizza and Chinese food, much like you can find in the United States. When we finally got to the traditional cuisine we were pleasantly surprised. Zebu steaks, or steak, is a common dish in Madagascar that usually, if cooked well, is excellent. Traditionally the steaks are served with a creamy green peppercorn sauce. Being and island, seafood is very popular especially along the coast. Common snack foods include coconut, peanuts, and koba which is a paste made from banana peanuts and rice wrapped in a banana leaf. While going to different landmarks and attractions we got to taste the different snacks. Our personal favorite was the fresh coconut. Every day we tried to go to a restuarant that served traditional foods, Our favorite dish was a zebu steak stew.
Other dishes include: Romazava : beef stew Ravitoto : pork with shredded cassava leaves Varanga : a form of fried beef Smalona: stuffed eels Lasary : a chutney made from fruits or vegtables Khimo : curried ground beef Kabaro :lima beans with curry or coconut |
Holidays and Festivals:
Because of the Christian influence, holidays such as Christmas and Easter are celebrated in Madagascar. Madagascar, like the United States, celebrates it's independence. Their independence day is on June 26. The anniversary of the Republic of Madagascar is celebrated on December 30th. Madagascar celebrates what is comparable to Veterans day in the United States on March 29th. This day is in honor of the men who died in the French Rebellion of 1947.
Sports and the Arts:
Sports play a major role in the modern culture of Madagascar. Whether recreational or professional a wide variety of sports are played throughout the island. Football, baseball, judo, tennis, basketball, and boxing are the main sports played. Common women's sports include tennis and basketball. Madagascar has many players that have competed in the olympics, and for tennis the U.S. Open. When playing in the world cup, they play on the Pan- African team. Another major sporting event is the All African Games where Madagascar represents their own team.
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Sources:
"Major Sports of Madagascar." Major Sports of Madagascar. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014. <http://www.mapsofworld.com/madagascar/sports/>.
"Travel Madagascar." Madagascar Travel Information Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014. <http://www.travelmadagascar.org/PLANNING/holidays.html>.
_"Madagascar Food and Drink." Food and Drink in Madagascar. World Travel Guide, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014. <http://www.worldtravelguide.net/madagascar/food-and-drink>.
"Major Sports of Madagascar." Major Sports of Madagascar. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014. <http://www.mapsofworld.com/madagascar/sports/>.
"Travel Madagascar." Madagascar Travel Information Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014. <http://www.travelmadagascar.org/PLANNING/holidays.html>.
_"Madagascar Food and Drink." Food and Drink in Madagascar. World Travel Guide, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014. <http://www.worldtravelguide.net/madagascar/food-and-drink>.