The World of Ancestors in Madagascar: Exploring the Rich Cultural Heritage

This constant presence in everyday life makes contact with ancestors an essential part of life in Madagascar, expressed through various sacrificial rites, oracles, and especially in burial culture. Graves and tombs are not just places of worship or specific rituals in Madagascar (such as Famadihana) – as the final resting place of ancestors, they hold a much higher importance than the homes of the living. Stone houses in Madagascar only became popular in the 19th century, before that, stones were only used for tomb construction, with wood being “good enough” for the living! The graves are usually located outside settlements, at very. At scattered places, but they can also be the center of villages, located near rice fields, under huge rock slabs in the mountains, or in rock crevices & caves. They are often adorned with zebu skulls, which are believed to symbolize the wealth of the deceased. Among the Highlanders, it is also a custom to place zebu skulls at graves as a warning and seal of inviolability. Malagasy verankert. Die Famadihana-Zeremonie, bei der die sterblichen Überreste der Verstorbenen exhumiert und umgebettet werden, symbolisiert die Verbindung zwischen den Lebenden und den Ahnen. Dieses Ritual stärkt den Zusammenhalt innerhalb der Familie und der Gemeinschaft und ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil der madagassischen Kultur und Traditionen. Besucher, die an dieser Zeremonie teilnehmen, können einen faszinierenden Einblick in die spirituelle Welt und die Lebensweise der Malagasy gewinnen. People and community are deeply rooted in Madagascar. However, when one considers the immense importance of ancestors in the daily lives of the inhabitants of Madagascar, it quickly becomes clear that the community of Malagasy people experiences the highest and strongest manifestation with their ancestors, and therefore people have a need to occasionally see their ancestors. This mutual aspect is also evident in the Famadihana ceremony, where ancestors are introduced to those who were born since the last reburial. Ancestors are “supplied” with stories and information, and the ubiquitous rum offering flows.

like the royal bones washing (fitampona) among the Sakalava. In addition to opening the graves, which can be a life-threatening endeavor due to the location of some graves, such as those of the Bara in caves in the middle of a steep cliff, the dressing of the bones with new precious burial cloths, the Lamba mena (red cloth), is the actual core of the ceremony.

The occasion to celebrate may begin with a dream of a family member, for example if a family member receives a visit from a deceased relative in a dream. The deceased relative may complain of being cold and hungry, feeling forgotten, or that their clothes are dirty. A family council is immediately convened and the members decide if the time is right for the reburial, then the local astrologers decide how and when the ceremony should take place and what its course should be.

Then, all other family members are informed, and they do everything possible to participate. Participating in the celebration, even for those living abroad, is a must to not miss the gathering with their deceased ancestors. Saving a lot of money is necessary, and often poorer families end up in long-term poverty and debt, but the effort is worth it for the families involved, due to the increased prestige within the village community, and of course, the gratitude of the ancestors.

Most people know exactly when the next reburial will take place, as it was decided during the last celebration when the burial cloths were tied together. If the deceased was tied three times, the next celebration will be in three years, and it can occur every three years.

Events like these can occur every five, seven, or nine years.

Celebrations without good speeches are unimaginable, good speakers are highly respected.

The next morning, the two heavy stone doors of the family crypt are opened, a flag is flying on the roof of the tomb, and the oldest and most respected personalities stand on it and give speeches. The mayor calls out the names of the deceased, who are carried out of the grave, men from the family go one by one and bring the bundled and wrapped bodies into the light.

If possible, get used to not pointing at anything or anyone in Madagascar. To show and indicate instead with the whole hand or fist in the intended direction: Especially pointing a finger towards a grave is considered fady, in the Bemaraha National Park nothing should be pointed at with the finger and nothing should be taken from the area! Even if you think this is hocus pocus – respect the customs and traditions of the people in Madagascar!