It is almost unknown: there are Creole cultural expressions in Madagascar. And there is a Malagasy word meaning creole: kiriolona.
Afindrafindrao quadrille appeared in the 19th century on the island’s east coast from the fusion between betsimisaraka and European musical styles. Today, it is danced during birthdays, weddings, funerals famadihana, new year alahady, etc. The dancers are in pairs: the woman in front and the man behind. The couple hold hands and swings from left to right. Couples moving behind each other form a long chain.
The Hira Gasy Opera dates from the 14th century. It has evolved in a Creole way. At the beginning of the 19th century, men’s costumes were inspired by the uniforms of the Malagasy royal army equipped by England. Violins, drums and trumpets are also a heritage of the bands of the Malagasy royal army, also equipped by England. The women’s dresses reproduce those offered by the Queen of England, Victoria, to the queens of Madagasikara. The Hira Gasy is a song in the beautiful Malayo Polynesian language practised throughout the country: Malagasy.
After having been the mpihiran ‘ny Adriana, the royal artists, the mpihira gasy accompanied the history of the resistance to colonialism with the Menalamba, Vy Vato Sakelika, then the MRDM in 1947, the Social revolution of 1972, etc.
Today, its influence has spread to all regions. This art is born from the sociological majority in the countryside. Songs give hope in a hopeless country ravaged by corruption kolykoly, where if you are not rich and sick, you die, where children are massively decolourized, where everything is sold: birth, marriage, and death certificates, driver’s license, property deeds, etc.
In 2022, the Hira Gasy gained worldwide recognition: after 30 years of initiatives of M. Ramilison Besigara, continued by his daughter Emeline Raholiarisoa, The Hira Gasy opera will be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage.
