Madagascar Religion


Figure 1.--This is Pastor Razafimaharavo with his two children. The photo was taken in 1952 on the step of his church in Mahajanga. The children are wearing western style clothing, but they go barefoot as it was usual at the time in Madagascar. We are not sure what the boy is holding, perhaps a beret.

Traditional beliefs were very strongly held in Madagascar. Despite Arab control of the Indian Ocean for centuries, unlike East Africa, Islam seems to have few inroads on Madagascar. Nor did Hinduism reach Madagascar from India. Christianity reached Madagascar first with the Portuguese. There was, however, little effort to convert the Malagasy until the French colonial era (19th century). This mean primarily Catholics, but Protestant missonary activity was began in the late-19th century. We note a Protestant missionary family in Ambatomanga during 1901. While many Malagasy people covered to Christimity, many did so without completely abandoning their traditional beliefs. No precise statistics exist, but a reasonable estimate is that about 55 percent of the population continue to mauintain traditional beliefs. This proportion would be even higher in the countryside. About 40 percent are Christian, about evenly divided between Roman Catholics and Protestants--surprising because the country was a French colony. You would think the Catholic share would be higher. Many villages in the central highlands have two competing churches, one Protestant and one Roman Catholic. Commonly they face each other, situated at at opposite ends of the village. We have limited information on Madagascar, but there is a First Communion page. The remaining 5 percent are mostly Muslim, both Sunni and Shia. Most Muslims are Comorans or Indo-Pakistanis, only a small number are native Malagasy. Most Muslims live in live in Mahajanga Province.

Traditional Beliefs

Traditional beliefs were very strongly held in Madagascar. This affected tha ability of foreign religions to become established in Madagascar. There is a wide spread belief among the Malagasy that there are ties between the living and the dead. This undepins traditional beliefs and is the the foundation of Malagasy religious and social values. Precise statistics are unavailable, but many observers believe that more than 50 percent of the Malagasy may still hold traditional beliefs. This proportion would be even higher in the countryside than the urban centers. .

Islam

Despite Arab control of the Indian Ocean for centuries, unlike East Africa, Islam seems to have made few inroads on Madagascar. The remaining 5 percent are mostly Muslim, both Sunni and Shia. Most Muslims are Comorans or Indo-Pakistanis, only a small number are native Malagasy. Most Muslims live in live in Mahajanga Province.

Hinduism

Nor did Hinduism reach Madagascar to any extent from India. One might have thought tht over the centuries that Hinduism would have spread from India to Madagascar.

Christianity

Observers believe that about 40 percent of the Malagasy are today Christians sivided among several different denominations. Christianity reached Madagascar first with the Portuguese. There was, however, little effort to convert the Malagasy. Christianity in Madagascar thus spread slowly. An even converted Chrustians incorporated elements of ancient tribal worship in their Christian worship. The French colonial era brought a serious effort by missionaroes to convert the Malagassy (19th century). There was a reaction among the Malagasy. This meant primarily Catholics, but Protestant missonary activity was began in the late-19th century. Queen Ranavalona I (1828-61) is sometimes called the 'Mad Monarch of Madagascar'. She expelled foreign missionaries and persecuted Malagasy Christians. Some were even put to death. This changed with her death. With ohe advent of King Ranavalona II, the traditional religion was targeted. Authorities began tp destroy old sampy (idols or talismans endowed with supernatural powers to protect the kingdom). Protestantism was adopted by royal family. The conflict between Christianity and traditional bliefs has evolved into a more tolerant relation, developed in part because of considerable mutual assimilation. We note a Protestant missionary family in Ambatomanga during 1901. Today the Malagasy are about evenly divided between Roman Catholics and Protestants. This is surprising because the country was a French colony, but probably reflects the influence of the monarchy. . You would think the Catholic share would be higher. Many villages in the central highlands have two competing churches, one Protestant and one Roman Catholic. Commonly they face each other, situated at at opposite ends of the village. Religious afiliatiin shows some regional differences. The Roman Catholic church is particularly strong among the Betsileo people in the southern area of the central highlands. The former slaves and the cÙtiers are also commonly Catholic. Protestantism is stromgest among the Merina of the central highlands. It is thus often sen as as the Christian affiliation of the Malagassy upper classes. Although the religion of thev minority of Malagasy, the Council of Christian Churches played a key role in resolving the conflict stemming from the violence and general strikes (May and August 1991). We have limited information on Madagascar, but there is a First Communion page.








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Created: 5:34 AM 6/16/2012
Last updated: 5:10 AM 12/7/2012