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CIA The World Factbook

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Madagascar... The Great Island

The Island of Madagascar, located in the Indian Ocean, east of the coast of Africa, ranks the fourth largest in the world with a population of nearly 17 million. It displays an extraordinary natural patrimony in sites of outstanding beauty and in the exceptional variety of its vegetation and wildlife, The damp and luxuriant forests of the northeast are in sharp contrast with the almost barren landscape of the south where the baobab trees and the dry undergrowth are very similar to what is found in the South African bush. In the centre of the island is a stretch of highlands, the kingdom of mountains and terrace cultivation, where every valley is used as a rice paddy. Everything grows on our island, proudly claims a peasant of Antsirabe. But the rates of productivity and profit are very low. There has been intensive logging, and now, erosion is causing laterite to surface, hence the name of Red Island that is sometimes used.

Over the centuries, the Oriental seas were plied by Persian, Hindu, Malaysian, Indonesian and Arab navigators and the Indian Ocean was a channel of communication between the different civilisations that surrounded it. In the midst of all the comings and goings that took place on this vast stretch of water ruled by seasonal winds and monsoons, Madagascar became a crossroads of peoples, a mixture of Asia and Africa. This twofold lineage is visible on the faces of the 18 main groups of people who make up its population. These tribes share several cultural traits, such as devotion to ancestors, the belief in spirits and the language - of Malaysian-Indonesian origin, an irreplaceable factor of unity and understanding. In terms of culture, Indonesia has left more traces than Africa, and the mixture has evolved into a unique civilisation that has grown in time, protected by its insular condition.

The Malagasy people are proud of their culture and their discreet and hospitable smile wins the day despite the simplicity of their country's infrastructures. The Island exerts an uncommon fascination on those who visit it for the first time. Possessing a wealth of traditions and customs, the people express their wisdom through an abundant collection of proverbs. Whoever has had a sip of the water of Manangareza will return for a drink, in other words, the traveller who had a taste of the charms of Madagascar always returns for more.

Fifty Years of Missionary Presence

In 1952, Morondava, a small town on the west coast, welcomed our first five missionaries who came to replace a French religions community. On their arrival, they took charge of the mission and of the existing works: two schools - a Malagasy school and the other, European, a boarding school, an orphanage and a sewing room. The initiation period included occasions to learn the Malagasy language. Over the years, some Sisters came to join the group, other houses were opened and new ministries were undertaken according to the needs of the local Church.

We celebrated the 50th anniversary of our presence in the Great Isle. Our Sisters renew their commitment to continue their mission: to make Jesus Christ, the One Sent by the Father, known and to actualise His message of liberating love among a people athirst for truth, justice, freedom and democracy in an authentic fihavanana, i.e., a spirit of solidarity and communion, a family spirit.

A Difficult Journey towards Democracy

The political history of the country has been quite a unique journey. Seventy-five years of French colonialism sealed the destiny of the great Malagasy dynasties before some twenty years of Marxist-inspired government isolated the country on the international scene. Recent history was hardly more productive with a succession of nationalistic, liberalistic, humanitarian and ecological regimes.

Alive and dynamic, the mainstream Christian Churches honestly denounce erroneous tendencies, social inequalities and corruption. They appeal to all Christians to contribute to national redress and invite the leaders to promote ethical and religious values in the governance of their own country.

Such a reversal of prevailing trends requires a change of mentality and several approaches are being put in place. The Centre d'Éducation Permanente des Adultes (C.E.P.A.) Adult Ongoing Education Centre in Tananarive, directed by Estelle Fontaine, m.i.c., is one of several means to strive for this goal. It offers formation programmes and sessions that facilitate personal, social and spiritual growth. This formation programme aims to train and accompany individuals and groups in the development of a culture based on individual autonomy and freedom. All this, in view of the participants' commitment to the tremendous task of transforming their environment and promoting growth and harmony among their people.

Text MIC MISSION NEWS (April-May-June 2002)
Louise Denis, m.i.c.