Madagascar
Madagascar
The small rivers that flow through semi-arid southwestern Madagascar see lots of action most days of the year. Much of the activity centers around domestic chores, such as washing clothes. More recently, however, the scene also includes miners—both men and women—using makeshift strainers to sift gravel, in search of sapphires. This region of Madagascar has one of the largest deposits of sapphire stones in the world, which provides local miners with occasional income, but more commonly yields very little for their labors.
– John Donelson ©2015
PCV Ghana 1965–1966
Secondary School Math & Science Teacher
République de Madagascar / Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
Southern Africa, island in Indian Ocean
Area 227K mi2; 587K km2
Population 24.4M (107/mi²; 42/km²)
Gov’t Semi-presidential republic
Capital Antananarivo (1.4M)
GCP/capita $1,500
Unemployment 4%
In poverty 75%
Life expectancy 66 yrs
Infant Mortality 42/1K live births (46th)
Literacy 66%
Languages French, Malagasy, English
Religions Christian, indigenous, Muslim
Military .69% of GDP (119th)
Education 2.1% of GDP (150th)
Labor Force Agriculture 78%, industry 7%, services 15%
PCVs 1993–2009, 2009–present CURRENT: 146, Agriculture, Education, Health; TTD: 1,225
Adult Books
Colleen J. McElroy, 2001
Paperback: 250 pages
Publisher: University of Washington Press (March 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-0295981154
Gifted travel writer, poet, professor of English, and insightful observer of human nature, Colleen McElroy journeyed to Madagascar to undertake a Fulbright research project exploring Malagasy oral traditions and myths. In Over the Lip of the World she depicts with equal verve the various storytelling traditions of the island and her own adventures in trying to find and record them.
McElroy's tale of an African American woman's travels among the people of Madagascar is told with wit, insight, and humor. Throughout it she interweaves English translations of Malagasy stories of heroism and morality, royalty and commoners, love and revenge, and the magic of tricksters and shape-changers.
Kids' Books
Thank You, Baobab Tree!
Mi-hwa Joo; illustrated by Yun-heu Park
Format: 29 pp., col. ill.
ISBN: 978-1-925247-55-8
Age Range: 5–8years
Publisher: Minneapolis: Big and Small, 2016 (English version)
There are eight species of baobab tree, and they are all found in Madagascar, a country called the ‘home of the baobab.’ This story follows a family who relies on baobab trees for many things.
Films
Documentary: Island of Lemurs: Madagascar
Director:
Date of Release: 2014
Language: English
Run Time: 39 minutes
Summary:
Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman narrates Island of Lemurs: Madagascar, the incredible true story of nature's greatest explorers: lemurs. Captured with IMAX 3D cameras, the film takes audiences on a spectacular journey to the remote and wondrous world of Madagascar. Lemurs arrived in Madagascar as castaways millions of years ago and evolved into hundreds of diverse species but are now highly endangered. Join trailblazing scientist Dr. Patricia C. Wright on her lifelong mission to help these strange and adorable creatures survive in the modern world. Directed by David Douglas and written and produced by Drew Fellman, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and IMAX Entertainment. Written by Anonymous —IMDb
Music
Rossy, born Paul Bert Rahasimanana, is a singer and songwriter from Madagascar generally considered the most popular Malagasy artist of the 1990s. Rossy got involved with music by participating in soava, a street-corner style featuring traditional instruments, hand-clapping, and political lyrics. He formed his own soava group featuring African rather than European percussion instruments. Eventually, he learned to play the accordion, and with Mahaleo, introduced the kabosy (traditional Malagasy guitar) to the environment of an electric band. His group has toured Germany and released records there - ALLMUSIC
Recipes
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