Instant Knowledge: Do you know the origin of Pousse-Pousse in Madagascar?

The pousse-pousse, now iconic in certain Malagasy cities, has an intriguing story to tell. Their arrival in Madagascar dates back to the early 20th century, introduced by Chinese laborers (known as coolies) brought in by colonial administrators to help build the railway connecting Antananarivo to the East Coast. The Malagasy people quickly adopted this mode of transport, taking inspiration from the palanquin, another human-powered vehicle used at the time.