Madagascar
Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) off the coast of East Africa. It is the second largest island country and includes the main island of Madagascar (the fourth largest island in the world) and numerous smaller islands. Neighbouring islands include Réunion and Mauritius to the east, and Cosmoros and Mayotte to the north west. The nearest mainland state is Mozambique to the west. The capital is Antananarivo and the people are referred to as Malagasy.
Language
Malagasy and French are both official languages of the state, but Malagasy is the first language. It is of Malayo-Polynesian origin and has about 18 dialects. French became the official language during the colonial period but is now mostly spoken as a second language among the educated population and used for international communication.
Brief History
In prehistory, about 88 million years ago, Madagascar split from the Indian subcontinent which allowed native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation. Subsequently Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot. Over 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth. However, the island's diverse ecosystems and unique wildlife is threatened by the encroachment of the rapidly growing human population and environmental threats.
Human settlement of Madagascar occurred between 350 BC and 550 AD by Indianised Austronesian people, centuries later joined by Bantu migrants from East Africa. During the 19th century most of the island was ruled as a Kingdom. In 1897 the island was absorbed into the French colonial empire. In 1960 it gained independence and became a republic. From 1992 it has been governed as a constitutional democracy, but in 2009 saw uprisings and a change in presidential power. (In current timeline, Madagascar is experiencing a political crisis, ending in 2013, which weakens the economy and damages the quality of life for the majority of the population.)
In 1810 King Radama I was recognised by the British government as King of Madagascar. Radama and the British governor of Mauritius agreed at treaty in 1817 to abolish slave trade in return for British military and financial assistance. In 1818 artisan missionary envoys began to arrive from London, helping to establish schools, transcribing the Malagasy language to the Roman alphabet, translating the Bible and introducing new technologies.
In 1828, Radama's successor, Queen Ranavalona I (1828-61) disliked increasing political and cultural encroachment from Britain and France and pressured foreigners to leave. She outlawed Christianity and used fanompoana (forced labour as tax payment) to complete public projects and create an army. Meanwhile, Malagasy could accuse each other of crimes such as theft, Christianity and witchcraft. The ordeal of tangena was obligatory. (Tangena is the indigenous name for a tree species which produces highly toxic nuts, used for trials by ordeal to determine guilt or innocence.) Her reign led to a very high mortality rate.
In 1861, Queen Ranavalona I was succeeded by her son, Radama II, who attempted to relax the stringent policies, but the damage was done. He was overthrown within two years, leading to rule by a Prime Minister and a queen who were married. Policies were written modernising and consolidating the power of a central government. Schools were built and attendance became mandatory. The army was improved and the British were employed to train and professionalise soldiers.
In 1883, France invaded Madagascar and used great force until 1896 when they were successful in dissolving the monarchy and exiling the royal family. Madagascar was forced to become a French colony. Following the Second World War an independence movement grew leading to the Malagasy Uprising of 1947, and the Malagasy Republic was proclaimed on 14th October 1958.
11 countries have established embassies in Madagascar, including France, the United Kingdom, the United States, China and India. In 1960 Madagascar joined the United Nations. (Later in 2015, the UN World Food Programme started to work on addressing the food insecurity issues in southern regions, assisting farmers to increase both the quantity and quality of their production and improving crop yield in unfavourable weather conditions.)
Magical Culture
Canon Magical Madagascar: [1]
Dispute Over the Disarming Charm
According to Miranda Goshawk in Book of Spells, historians disagreed about the origins of the the disarming charm, with some claiming it was in widespread use in Madagascar as early as the 11th Century.
Education
The magical academy of Madagascar is Zeburan. (See article for more)
Quidditch
The Malagasy National Quidditch team made it into the 1974 Quidditch World Cup finals but lost against Syria.[2]
Muggle Understanding
Malagasy muggles have witchdoctors (ombiasi) as healers. If they are very angry with someone they pay the witch doctor to put a curse on the person, the more severe the more expensive, from bad luck to death.
Malagasy muggles believe that they should stay inside during the late hours of the night as this is when witches walk through the streets. It is believed that if a witch sees you (before you see her), she can control you and ride you like a horse. You will wake with bloody knees, torn from travelling on all fours. By carrying chickpeas in your pockets you can stay safe, as you can throw them at the witch.
Malagasy muggles also believe in mermaids. There are mermaids but strictly speaking, the Muggles shouldn't know about them...
Time and Date
Malagasy imagine the future as flowing into the back of their heads, or passing them from behind then becoming the past as it stretches out in front of them. The past is in front of their eyes because it is visible, known and influential. They can look at it, enjoy it, learn from it.
Malagasy traditionally consult Mpanandro ("Makers of the Days") to identify the most auspicious days for important events such as weddings, according to a traditional astrological system introduced by Arabs. Malagasy people see time in a cyclical manner.
Malagasy culture is to be consistently late, if a meeting is scheduled for 10am, people may start to show up at 10:15, but the meeting won't start until 11.
Divination
Wixes commonly use the drawing of lots as a regular form of divination.
Other
Ministry of Magic
At Absit Omen
Tanner Merriman, a former American Ambassador to the British Ministry of Magic was stationed in Madagascar during his career. Johann Storm told Merriman's successor, Lorelei Wong that he enjoyed Merriman's 'tales of Madagascar at the Christmas party' when they met in September 2010 Affairs Across the Atlantic
Samia St. James spent some time in Anjajavy, North West Madagascar in 2008 where Jason Marren visited her Madegascan Vanilla. Eleanor and Samia St. James also met in a small cafe on the island in October 2008 - Put Our Heads Together
