They say superheroes save lives… In Madagascar, the Barea have resurrected far beyond anything one could imagine. A page turned in how Malagasy people are perceived, long dismissed as « the underdogs » for their lack of qualification in international sports has shifted forever. What pride to finally see the whole world turn a gratifying gaze toward us!

What is Barea?

Barea, the zebus

Barea is a rare variety of zebu that lives in the forests of the Tuléar region, which extends from the Centre-West part of the great island to the South-West. Barea in the dialect of the South-West, Baria in that of the Centre-West, this species of wild zebu truly exists in Madagascar.

A powerful body, hairier than other zebus; a rather voluminous hump and imposing long horns, these uncommon characteristics make the Barea an extremely rare species after the deer that once existed on the great island but fell victim to hunting.

Barea, the national football team

Here, Madagascar's national football team inherited the name Barea after the values attributed to the zebu in Madagascar: power, strength, wealth. We speak of them.

They succeeded in unifying the people through victories at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 football tournament held in Egypt until July 19, 2019.

The Barea managed to bring everyone together in a shared joy that touched the poorest to the wealthiest, mingling in the streets to watch matches live on giant screens set up in public squares.

For the people, heroes were born. In the streets and public transport, people can be heard expressing their admiration and gratitude for the Barea, Madagascar's zebus among themselves. On the players' side, Faneva ANDRIANTSIMA, captain of this national team expresses his delight : « to move the population and bring a little light to a people for whom things are difficult in the country ».

The beautiful victory that secured a place in the Round of 16, triumphing over Nigeria 2-0, revealed one of the most beautiful yet overlooked virtues of the Malagasy people: unity… locally expressed as « miara mirona! » which can be translated as « one for all and all for one ».

This incredible historic qualification for the Round of 16 created more than euphoria throughout the great island, with Madagascar finishing first in their group ahead of Nigeria and Guinea.

But that's not all…

@ Africa Top Sports

The magic of the Quarter-Final

Unprecedented! One might think there had never been an evening as thrilling as Sunday, July 7, 2019 on Malagasy soil… If not perhaps in 1960 during the proclamation of the country's independence?

A beautiful football match captivated everyone for 120 long minutes in front of screens, like an odyssey where one can do nothing but close their eyes in fear of losing and cry out in hope at a glimmer of victory, a player running toward the goal. A 2-2 match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), finally won by a 4-2 penalty shootout, qualified Madagascar for the Quarter-Final. The last failed penalty of the opposing side created such a surge of emotion for Malagasy people that it resulted in five deaths that night.

People of different nationalities who witnessed the joyful hysteria of that evening even admitted « never to have seen anything like it even in their own countries when similar victories occurred ».

But what magic are we talking about exactly?

Those watching the match at home rush out into the streets to cry out in joy at each goal and congratulate each other; At the end of the match, neighborhoods are alive with whistles, applause, loud music in car processions, rhythmic honks amplifying the emotion; groups of traditional musicians parade through neighborhoods blowing devotedly into their trumpets, striking drums to play enchanting musical rhythms; Malagasy flags are waved everywhere; pot lids are banged with fervor; tam-tams struck persistently, and the most excited are swept up in the most spontaneous choreography.

Sylvain PHILIP, General Director of DETOURS, states: « For me, this is the first time I've seen the Malagasy community seized by fervor, a shared dynamic, for a common good and not an individual one. It's the image of this football team, collective effort, solidarity, dynamism and humility. These are excellent qualities and this is what I convey at my level in managing Détours Madagascar... We must now hope that at the highest level of state, this virtuous dynamic will be continued and used wisely. This fervor is not just Malagasy, it is borderless. Here in Madagascar, everyone is behind the Bareas, without distinction, and everyone salutes this beautiful team, even more so this wonderful spirit and above all this finally virtuous dynamic, the beauty of it. Beyond borders, in France, in the Indian Ocean... everyone is with the Bareas and Madagascar. It's amazing, incredible and beautiful to see. »

« It's not yet the final » say the less optimistic. That's true. But even more true is that the Zebus are magicians. They have brought what no one else could provoke and simply for the intense emotion that the Malagasy people have experienced here and beyond the ocean, this fresh air that will durably inspire future generations, we are grateful to the Barea players.

Alefa Barea!

Olive Ramarozatovo