Madagascar Society and Culture

Madagascar Society and Culture is quite vibrant like the country itself and they are the combinations of various civilizations that flourished in Madagascar.
According to anthropological studies, it is assumed that the first humans arrived in Madagascar about 2000 years ago and they were mostly from regions like India, Arabia and the continent of Africa. During that time the land was the abode of various wild creatures like lemurs, giant tortoise, dwarf hippos and many other unique species of animals found nowhere else in the world.

The ancestors of the Madagascar society lived in harmony with each other and they were against the idea of segregation. These peoples were the initiators of Madagascar Society and Culture and throughout the years they formed an incredible amalgamation of tradition, language, and religion. In the 16th century, the Portuguese arrived and invaded the island but very soon they were succeeded by the arrival of the French and English. In 1794, King Andrianampoinimerina came to power and he united the various tribes to form a single kingdom in the country.


Modern Madagascar society presents a perfect blend of traditionalism and modernism. In earlier times the society in Madagascar used to follow the hierarchical order. The society was divided into the noble class, commoner class and the slave class. But with time, these differences were wiped out and now Madagascar has a homogeneous social set-up. In Madagascar society women enjoy equal rights like their male counterparts. Recently various women organization came to the forefront to help the women in need in the rural areas and also for the overall development of women.

Thus the Madagascar society and culture is a rich combination of various ethnic groups, religions and languages that make the country a united entity.

For more information about Madagascar Society and Culture log on to the following sites:

• Madagascar Ethnic Groups
• Madagascar Language
• Madagascar Religion
• Madagascar Art
• Madagascar Clothing
• Madagascar People
• Madagascar Food
• Madagascar Recipe
• Christmas in Madagascar
• Madagascar Music