The Antambahoaka are a small ethnic group living on Madagascar’s southeast coast, mainly in the Vatovavy-Fitovinany region around Mananjary. Their name comes from “Ratiambahoaka,” meaning “beloved of the people,” in reference to their ancestor Ravalarivo, who was highly esteemed at the time and settled in Masindrano.
According to tradition, the Antambahoaka are descendants of Ramia, who came from Mecca between the 10th and 12th centuries. This origin explains the influence of Islam in their customs : clan chiefs do not eat pork, and meat must be ritually bled. Their language also contains several words of Arabic origin, and some Antambahoaka still know how to write in Arabic script.
Their society is led by a king, or “mpanjaka,” the guardian of tradition and a respected figure. His house, built on stilts, follows an unchanging ancient model : a rectangular hut with a gable roof and no verandas. The roofs are made of ravinala leaves, the walls of falafa (woven ravinala ribs), and the floors of bark. The entrance is often adorned with a carved seabird, an ancestral symbol. These houses serve as a meeting place for the clan, a temple for ancestor worship, and a dwelling for both the living and the dead.
One of their most important traditions is the Sambatra, a collective circumcision ceremony celebrated every seven years. This festival, which lasts several weeks, marks the entry of boys into the paternal lineage. The king wears a black-and-red striped robe and a red fez, the royal color. These festivities reinforce community solidarity, known as Fihavanana, through dances and celebrations.
The Antambahoaka have a particular taboo: the birth of twins is considered a curse. In the past, they were abandoned, but today these children are entrusted to associations or nuns, although the subject remains sensitive.
Economically, the Antambahoaka are mainly farmers. They grow coffee for export and practice beekeeping and basketry, a traditional craft. Women excel in rush weaving, while men supplement their income through fishing.
