Recently, Zoto, whose real name is Maurice Randrianarison, has become a social media star in Madagascar. Everyone is captivated by the adventure he is living with his family: walking around Madagascar on foot. But why now, when the country (and even the entire world) is still on alert because of the Covid-19 pandemic? And why with the entire family?

The origins of Zoto's adventure

Zoto hails from Vangaindrano, an urban commune located 75 kilometers south of Farafangana, 20 kilometers from Madagascar's East Coast. In his constant struggle to survive and provide for his family, he eventually settled in Antsiranana, more than 1,865 kilometers (via Route Nationale 6) from his tanindrazana (ancestral village).

The full story remains untold, but his 3 sons, approximately 6, 8, and 10 years old, remained living with his father in Vangaindrano. The round trip to visit his children became a daunting ordeal, yet also an epic undertaking.

Consider this: taking the bush taxi (local public transport), one would need to spend no less than 400,000 ariary (a considerable sum for average Malagasy families) per person to travel from Antsiranana to Vangaindrano. It made perfect sense that this devoted father would consider making the journey by bicycle.

We don't know exactly how long it took him, but he did it—even making the round trip. After his father's death, his children no longer had a guardian, forcing him to go retrieve them. There was no way to fit everyone on his bicycle! At the age of 68, he decides to transform this necessity into a family adventure: walking around Madagascar.

© Andrianianja Rakotomahevitra

Zoto and his family's itinerary

Zoto and his wife departed from Antsiranana as soon as they learned about his father's passing. They made the journey by bicycle, traveling down the East Coast from North to South, taking the shortest route. On the return, they took the longest route with their three children: from Vangaindrano to Fort-Dauphin (southeast coast), passing through Toliara (southwest), Ihorombe (south-central), Ihosy (toward the center), Fianarantsoa, Ambositra, Antsirabe, and Antananarivo, then continuing eastward before heading north again.

After more than four months of trekking, they arrived in Antananarivo. It was around this time that their story went viral on Malagasy social media and news outlets. Many people showed compassion and helped them throughout their journey, offering them shelter, food, and clothing.

Since then, their adventure has been covered by the media (including a feature on TVM, the national channel, on May 16) and documented step-by-step on Facebook. Now everyone knows Zoto, walking and pushing his bicycle laden with their belongings, accompanied by his wife and sons. Many people have expressed their admiration and helped them in the spirit of sport and simply out of kindness, hospitality, and mutual aid—three values that form the essence of Malagasy fihavanana.

In these difficult times, the Randrianarison family's adventure brings us back to reality: pandemic or no pandemic, life goes on and there are important things from which we cannot escape. We must always continue to care for our families. Covid-19 will not stop people from loving and helping one another. There are many other illnesses and worries that can take more lives than coronavirus. It's just one small button among so many others!

However, all this enthusiasm is cut short when Antananarivo authorities detained the family for Covid-19 testing. They had to wait at the hospital and obtain authorization to continue their journey. Indeed, they were not respecting quarantine regulations.

© Andrianianja Rakotomahevitra

Zoto: a legacy and trademark

For those who don't know, this Zoto is not the original Zoto. The original Zoto was Louis Michel Ramarosata, a resident of Antananarivo who completed a walk around Madagascar on foot... three times! He passed away on September 20, 2012, at the age of 69, leaving behind a book recounting his memoirs: Three walks around Madagascar on foot (2006, Tsipika Publishing).

He even presented his book throughout Madagascar for educational purposes. Indeed, he did not walk around Madagascar out of necessity, but as a physical, mental, and spiritual challenge. He took the nickname Zoto, meaning zeal, diligence, or dedication, embodying courage, tenacity, perseverance, and endurance in his accomplishments.

Zoto became his trademark. He was even featured in a documentary on MBS television in 2007 or 2008. The end of his life was quite sad, as he passed away after several months of decline following a serious traffic accident. He had made an appeal for donations to help with his situation, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

Today, his legacy lives on through all those who walk around Madagascar solo. Alongside the Randrianarison Maurice Zoto family, there is another Zoto currently traversing the Great Island on foot: Jean Joseph Randriamaro. Those following the Zoto family on social media have shared a photo of him, but with no other information except that this is a third edition. He is shown seated at a table, presenting his walk around Madagascar. And what if there are even more Zotos? How many?

© Détours Madagascar - May 19, 2020