Manao ahoana! That is the way we say hello in my country

Manao ahoana! That is the way we say hello in my country, Madagascar. My name is Mirana, which
means “smiling” in my language, Malagasy. I am thrilled that you have come to visit. Most people
have heard of Madagascar, but they have no idea where it is. This is my chance to tell you about my
home.
The first thing you may notice is that Madagascar does not have giraffes, hippos, lions, and zebras
roaming across it. That is only true in movies! What we do have are lemurs — lots of them! The smallest
species is the tiny mouse lemur. These small creatures may weigh only 1 or 2 ounces, but they love to
eat bananas. The largest lemur is called the indri. It can weigh up to 15 pounds. But the most famous
species is the ring-tailed lemur. Since it lives on the ground instead of in trees, it is the species people
see most often.
Some people call my country the “red island.” That’s because the soil here is red. Years ago, much
of the island was covered with rainforest, but farmers have cut and burned an alarming number of
trees in order to get more farmland. Without the trees, the topsoil washes away, exposing the red
earth underneath. Scientists say that from space Madagascar looks as if it is bleeding! People are
now trying to stop the bleeding by finding other ways to farm in order to save the beautiful trees we
still have.
My home, Antananarivo, is Madagascar’s capital and largest city. Since the name is so long, we just
call it Tana. It sits high on a ridge about 90 miles from the Indian Ocean. It was settled long ago —
about 1625 — as a fortress to protect the king. The name Antananarivo means “City of the Thousand”
and refers to the number of soldiers that guarded it. Since then it has grown to a bustling city of about
1.5 million people.
For many years, Madagascar was controlled by France. You can still see French influences in the
buildings, and French is often the language used in businesses and the government. However,
Madagascar has its own language called Malagasy. You’ll notice that most Malagasy words are
really long — like Antananarivo!
While you are here, we will go exploring in other areas of the island. Nosy Be (meaning “big island”),
lies eight miles off Madagascar’s northwest coast. It has beautiful beaches and is home to a species
of chameleon that is so small it can fit on the end of a person’s fingertip. You’ll also want to go
to the tropical rainforest of Ranomafana National Park and see the different species of lemurs.
And we can’t forget the tsingy of Bemaraha National Park in western Madagascar. This forest
of razor-sharp limestone “needles” sticks up from the earth and looks like a landscape
from another planet. Some of the peaks are 66 feet high. Tsingy means “where one
cannot walk barefoot” or “walking on tiptoes.” Only the hardiest of climbers can make
their way up the rough, jagged slopes.
Madagascar definitely has enough sights to keep you busy while you are here. But if you
really want to enjoy my country, you must meet its people. You will find that they are a
lot like the meaning of my name — smiling. I know they will make you feel welcome.
Now let’s get started; we have lots to do!
National Girls Ministries.www.ngm.ag.org
©2012 Gospel Publishing House. Springfield, MO 65802. All Rights Reserved
The Country
;;Madagascar
is the world’s fourth largest
island. Its land area is about 227,000 square
miles, which is about twice the size of
Arizona.
;;The
island is shaped like a footprint and is
more than 1,000 miles long and 350 miles
wide.
;;Located in the Indian Ocean, it is about 250
miles off the southeast coast of Africa. Its
nearest neighbor is Mozambique.
;;More
than 90 percent of its animal and
plant life are unique to the island.
;;The east coast receives plenty of rain, and
monsoons often cause flooding. Western
Madagascar is much drier, and the
southwest is mostly desert.
;;Madagascar is in the southern hemisphere,
so the coolest month of the year is
July. In December, the warmest month,
temperatures average about 84 degrees
on the coast but are much cooler in the
mountains.
;;A mountain range runs down the middle of
Madagascar. Antananarivo, the nation’s
capital, sits on a high mountain plateau
near the center of the island.
;;Madagascar
is home to more than 1,000
kinds of orchids. Some of them grow on the
ground, while others grow high up in the
trees.
;;Madagascar
is one of the world’s largest
suppliers of vanilla, a pod that comes
from the vanilla orchid. Malagasy vanilla is
considered to be the best in the world.
;;The
flag of Madagascar consists of three
stripes: a vertical white stripe on the left side
with two horizontal stripes — red on top,
green on bottom — extending outward
from it.
;;Rice
is the most important crop grown in
Madagascar.
spoken in Madagascar. French is often used
to conduct business.
;;
Most
people in Madagascar follow the
traditional beliefs of their ancestors. They
believe in a creator called Zanahary. They
honor their dead ancestors and build lavish
tombs for them. They believe that these
spirits can cause good or bad events to
happen, so they constantly try to make
them happy.
;;The first people to live on Madagascar are
believed to have come from Southeast
Asia. Today the island is an interesting mix of
Asian, African, and French influences.
;;
The
currency of
Malagasy Ariary.
Madagascar
is
the
;;
Most
people live in rural areas with no
access to schools. About 75 percent of
children attend elementary school, but only
14 percent go to high school.
;;Homes in the mountains are usually built of
brick or mud. On the coast people often
build wood or bamboo houses topped with
palm branches.
;;
Malagasies
eat rice at every meal.
Madagascar is one of the top nations in
the world in the amount of rice eaten per
person each year.
;;Few people own cars — especially outside
the cities. In cities, people sometimes hire
someone to take them places in a rickshaw,
known as a pousse-pousse in Malagasy.
;;An important part of Malagasy clothing is a
lamba, a long strip of cloth wrapped around
the shoulders. A woman wears a lamba as a
shawl or over her head for protection from
the sun. She also uses it as a sling to carry her
baby. A man usually wears a lamba draped
down the left side of his body.
Did you know?
;;
The
;;About 75 percent of all chameleon species
The People
;;Madagascar’s
national symbol of Madagascar is
the traveler’s palm tree, called ravinala in
Malagasy.
;;
Madagascar’s
population is about 21.3
million — similar to that of Florida and
Mississippi combined.
;;Most
of the people farm for a living. Only
about 30 percent of the population lives in
cities.
;;Nearly
half of the population is 14 years
old and younger. The average age in
Madagascar is 18.5 years.
;;Malagasy,
the national language, is only
live in Madagascar. One type, Parson’s
chameleon, has a tongue as long as its
body and is as big as a house cat.
largest predator is a fosa
(pronounced foosa). This animal has a
body like a cat and a face like a dog, but
it actually belongs to the mongoose family.
;;The
indri lemur’s call sounds similar to a
clarinet and can be heard up to two miles
away.
;;The aye-aye, a species of lemur with a face
like a weasel and ears like a bat, has such
good hearing that it can detect insects and
worms moving 12 feet deep inside a tree.
;;Malagasy
honor their dead ancestors by
famadihana, or “turning of the bones.”
Every seven years or so, families open up a
dead loved one’s tomb, remove the body,
wrap it in clean cloth, and dance while
holding it over their heads. The body is then
reburied as older members of the family tell
stories about the dead loved one.
;;Malagasy bury their loved ones in the most
lavish tombs they can afford. Some people
spend more on these tombs than they do
on their own homes.
;;
The
most common breed of cattle in
Madagascar is the zebu. Malagasy believe
that the more cattle a person owns, the
wealthier he is.
The Assemblies of God
in Madagascar
The Madagascar Assemblies of God was
established in 1970 by French missionaries
who came to Madagascar from neighboring
Reunion Island. U.S. Assemblies of God
missionaries came to live on Madagascar in
1990. The national fellowship now numbers
nearly 100,000 people who attend more than
600 churches. Royal Rangers outposts and
other children’s ministries are being started to
reach boys and girls for Jesus.
4.
Add
bananas to batter, pushing them
down gently until all pieces are completely
covered.
5.Let the mixture rest for 1 hour.
6.Over medium heat, pour oil
into a large
skillet. Oil should be about 2 inches deep.
7.Use
a slotted spoon to remove banana
pieces from batter. Drain off excess batter,
then drop pieces in hot oil. (You may need
an adult to help you with this.)
8.Fry on all sides until golden brown.
9.Drain on paper towels.
Ranonapango
(Burned Rice Drink)
You will need:
;;¼ cup rice
;;2½ cups water
What to do:
1. Combine rice and ½ cup water.
2.
Over
medium-high heat, cook rice,
uncovered, until all the water boils away
and rice begins to burn. DO NOT STIR.
3.When
the rice on the bottom of the pan
turns dark brown, remove pan from heat.
4.Slowly add remaining 2 cups water. Stir to lift
burned rice from bottom of pan.
5.Pour the rice liquid into a pitcher. (Straining is
optional.) Serve either hot or cold.
Foods from Madagascar
Here are two recipes of Malagasy foods —
one that is simple to like and one not quite so
much.
Mofo Akondro
Malagasy words
English: Malagasy
Hello: Manao ahoana
(Malagasy Banana Fritters)
(These are eaten as a snack in Madagascar)
Goodbye: Veloma
You will need:
;;3½ cups flour
Yes: Eny
;;1 cup sugar
;;1 teaspoon baking powder
;;Pinch of salt
;;1 egg
;;1½ cups water
;;6 bananas
;;Oil for frying
What to do:
1. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and
salt in a bowl.
2.Add egg and water and beat until smooth.
3.
Peel bananas. Cut each one in half
lengthwise, then cut each piece in half
crosswise.
What’s your name?: Iza moa kay no anaranao?
No: Tsia
Thank you: Misaotra betsaka
You’re Welcome: Tsy misy fisaorana
Good morning: Manao ahoana ianao
Jesus loves you: Tia anao Jesosy
How are you?: Fahasalamana?
Leapin’ Lemurs
A lemur can jump 25 feet in a single leap.
Play this game with your friends to see
who can be top lemur!
You will need:
;;A yardstick or tape measure
Proverbs from Madagascar
Here are some Malagasy proverbs. What
do you think they mean?
1. Advice is a stranger. If he is welcome, he
stays for the night. If not, he leaves the
same day.
;;Banana
2.Nothing is so full of victory as patience.
What to do:
3.Don’t take another mouthful before you
1. Designate a starting line for the game.
2.Take turns trying to leap forward from
the starting line.
3.Measure each leap to see who can
come closest to a lemur’s leap of 25
feet.
4.
Give the winner a banana — the
favorite food of lemurs.
Lovely Lambas
The Malagasy are skilled at painting
beautiful designs on silk cloth for
decoration. Try your hand at painting a
lamba to remember Madagascar.
You will need:
;;Newspapers
;;One 36- by 18-inch length of white or
pastel-colored cotton fabric
;;Fabric or tempera paints
;;Paintbrushes
What to do:
1. Spread newspapers over a work
surface. Place the fabric over the
newspaper.
2.
Paint a decorative design on the
fabric. The design should reflect
something you have learned about
Madagascar.
3.Let the paint dry completely.
4.Wrap the cloth around your shoulders
like a lamba when you go to the next
club meeting.
have swallowed what is in your mouth.
4.
Words are like eggs. When they are
hatched they have wings.