June 8, 2018 In this brief article, I'll attempt to present fihavanana without citing sociologists, and offer the perspective of a Malagasy person on the society in which they live. Visitors can sometimes be surprised by this cultural trait that governs Malagasy society. The spirit of family, the sense of community and mutual aid, the priority of peace and unity, the effacement of the individual for the benefit of the collective…

Family

The word fihavanana has its root in havana, meaning "of the family." Simply put, it amounts to considering everyone as a member of one's family and acting accordingly. For Malagasy people, family is extremely important. Nothing unusual so far, you might say, but in Madagascar, even a third-degree cousin or the great-granddaughter of your grandfather's cousin is considered a family member toward whom you have obligations. If they have the means, you might be invited to their wedding or their son's circumcision ceremony, for instance. It is particularly interesting for a visitor, during a trip to Madagascar, to attend a family celebration, notably a fanaterana vodiondry, abbreviated vodiondry (traditional marriage considered as an engagement), a religious wedding, or a famadihana (turning of the bones), etc. These traditions are common to all Malagasy people, whether in the highlands, the South, or the North…

Community and Mutual Aid

Even if some people dislike each other in a village, outwardly, everyone acts toward one another as with a family member. When important work needs to be done, everyone lends a hand: rice paddy work, the construction of a tomb (stone blocks must be transported), the construction or repair of a house, etc. However, nowadays, as society has modernized and absorbed Western culture, you no longer see these things in large cities. Nevertheless, certain traditions have endured, notably famangiana manamanjoa. The word famangiana means "to visit someone" and applies to various circumstances, but here, it refers to a visit to offer condolences to someone who has just lost a loved one. Family members, acquaintances, and the entire village present themselves in turn before the bereaved family to "offer words of consolation" and money.

Peace and Unity

If one were to create a slogan for fihavanana, I would suggest: "Community above all." No one wishes to stand out from others, and everyone tries to blend into the community. Behaviors, words, and decisions must all be in harmony with society. In case of conflict, people try to find the marimaritra iraisana, a consensus. If the solution or measures that must be taken do not achieve unanimity and could be a source of conflict, the problem should simply be forgotten, set aside, or the search for a solution postponed. Peace and unity are prioritized above all else. This may not be what we observe today given the political crises and endless protests, but these episodes are merely instigated by politicians struggling for power. The majority of the people are not even involved.

Culture and Tradition People and Ethnicities Tourism Charlène Nomadays SEO writer from the earliest days at Nomadays, turned content manager and head of the communications division, Charlène has accompanied the adventure since its inception with passion and loyalty. After living seven years in Asia – from China to Thailand, passing through Mongolia and South Korea – she has made travel a way of being in the world. A lover of words, nature, and human connection, she strives to convey in her writing a sensitive, engaged, and responsible vision of tourism. Each article is for her a bridge between curiosity, respect, and wonder.