Madagascar - Part 12

There is a strong ocean current between Madagascar and Africa. It prevented human colonization of the island for a very long time - until less than two thousand years ago. When people finally arrived, they didn't come from Africa. Instead, they moved in from the islands of present-day Indonesia in what was almost certainly the longest mass migration in ancient history.

Kids landing a fishing boat, Ifaty. Outrigger canoes are also of Asian origin.

Women doing laundry at a spring, Anjana.

Kids, Isalo.

Later, Bantu migrants came to the south, where people now look more African. Boats, Ifaty. Immigrants from the Middle East live mostly in the northwest.

Kids, Isalo.

Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar.

19th century wooden sculpture, Vezo tribe. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

In the late 17th century, Apomerina tribe united all of the island's people by force. The country was conquered by the French in 1986, and didn't gain independence until 1960. Old tomb, Amic. The French tried hard to impose Catholicism, but traditional beliefs are still very much alive.

19th century wooden sculpture, Sakalava tribe. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Zebu cattle, vanilla and rice are the most important components of Madagascar economy. Morondava.

Kid, Anjana.

After centuries of tribal warfare, slave trade, bad colonial rule and even worse post- colonial government, Madagascar is now one of the world's poorest countries, 95% deforested and with some of the world's worst roads.

Kids, Amic.

Soil erosion is a grave problem all over Madagascar. Parc National d'Ankarafantsika.

The interior of Madagascar is now almost completely converted to pastures and fields.

New Fianarantsoa-Toliara Highway.

But recently, the country has finally got a good president, the deforestation has slowed down, there's a lot of road construction, life is getting better... There is hope.

Heavy traffic, Isalo.

Hole in a rock, Parc National L'Isalo.

Author thanks the wonderful people of Madagascar for being friendly and helpful in so many ways.

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