A Region of Many NationsWith a population of about 22 million people, Madagascar is made up of many different ethnic groups. The Malagasy ethnic group makes up over 90% of the population and can be divided into eighteen ethnic sub-groups. Research shows that the average Malagasy person is made up of almost equal parts of Southeast Asian and East African genes.
LanguagesMadagascar has two nationally observed languages including French and Malagasy. French became an official language during the colonial period, when the island came under the authority of France. In the Constitution of 2007, three official languages were reintroduced: Malagasy, French, and English. However, in 2010, voters approved to remove English as an official language.
ReligionApproximately half of the island's population practice traditional religion, which places much of its emphasis on the link between the living and their ancestors, called razana. Tomb building and other traditions such as the practice of famadihana—an occasion to celebrate a beloved ancestor's memory—were created to demonstrate reverence for those who have passed away. Other widely practiced religions among the Malagasy people include Christianity and Islam. Today, many of the Christian believers combine their beliefs with traditional ones related to honoring their ancestors.
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Malagasy CuisineMany diverse culinary traditions contribute to the preparation of Malagasy cuisine. The foods eaten in Madagascar mirror the influence of many different cultures including Southeast Asian, African, Chinese, and European. Supplemented by hunting wild game and foraging, rice, or vary, is the main component of the Malagasy diet because it was cultivated by the island's earliest settlers. Throughout Madagascar, a traditional meal will consist of rice served with an accompaniment. The accompanying dish, termed laoka, may be vegetarian or include animal proteins with a sauce flavored with ingredients such as ginger, onion, curry, vanilla, tomato, garlic, or salt.
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