Malagasy Music Festival Tour

A 19-day cultural tour based on the annual Donia music festival

Itinerary:

Fri, 10 May:
Fly from the UK to Paris, where we connect with the Air Madagascar overnight flight to Antananarivo.

Sat, 11 May:
On arrival in the morning, we will be met and assisted with airport formalities. We transfer to our hotel to freshen up and then visit AMBOHIMANGA, one of the most important sites in the history and cultural life of the Malagasy people. Stay 3 nights at the Ibis Hotel.

Sun, 12 May:
Explore the AMPEFY area and attend a traditional Hira gasy*. After lunch at the Kavitha, we visit the LILY waterfall or the hot spring. After dinner, we attend a performance of contemporary Malagasy music (mainly from the coast) at Le Glacier.

Mon, 13 May:
Visit a number of different musical workshops in Antananarivo. The diversity of instruments reflects the mixture of cultures that has evolved in Madagascar through the centuries. The zither is come from Austronesia, whereas the rhombe is African, and the flute and oboe are of Arabian origin.
In the evening, we have dinner at Antshow - the creation of Tarika's Hanitra Rasoanaivo - where there will be a valiha performance.

Tues, 14 May:
Fly to Nosy Be where we stay 6 nights at the Vanila Hotel.

Wed, 15 May:
Excursion to NOSY KOMBA and NOSY TANIKELY.

Thurs, 16 May:
The Donia starts with a colourful pageant, which we will witness.

Fri - Sun, 17 - 19 May:
Attend the festival.

Mon, 20 May:
Fly back to Antananarivo and overnight at the Ibis Hotel.

Tue, 21 May:
After breakfast, we depart for ANTSIRABE, 169 km south. The drive takes us through landscape typical of the Merina region, with its traditional brick houses and beautiful white tombs. In Antsirabe, we visit a number of workshops where the local straw hats and ox-cart wheels are made; fine embroidery is created; gemstones are cut and polished; and utensils and sculptures are made of zebu horn. Overnight at the Arotel.

Wed, 22 May:
Continue south to FIANARANTSOA, the 'place of good learning'. En route, we stop at AMBOSITRA to visit workshops specialising in woodwork.
Entering the Betsileo region, we will admire the beauty of the terraced rice fields. We attend a traditional Zebu contest. Stay two nights at Tsara Guesthouse.

Thurs, 23 May:
Spend the day around AMBALAVAO, visiting the Antemoro paperworks and a silkworks, where traditional lambas are woven. The funerary art of the area is characterised by the Teza or Vatolahy placed on Betsileo tombs.

Fri, 24 May:
Continue south to ISALO, observing the increasing number of zebu as we enter the territory of the Bara people. Stay two nights at the Relais de la Reine.

Sat, 25 May:
Day in Isalo to visit the Bara villages and witness traditional Bara dance. The most famous is the Papango Dance.
Traditionally, dance was the vehicle for preserving knowledge and customs in the Malagasy oral tradition. Each tribe has its dance tradition. The Indonesian and European influences are strong in the highlands, whereas Islam and Hindu influences can be discerned in the west and south west. Austronesian and Creole influences are most obvious in the east and African in the south .

Sun, 26 May:
We head south to the Mahafaly tombs. These beautiful tombs are characterised by the Aloalo, which tells the story of the deceased. We continue through TULEAR to Ifaty where we visit a Vezo village. Overnight at Le Paradisier.

Mon, 27 May:
After (optional) dawn birding in the extraordinary spiny forest, we transfer to Tulear for the flight to Antananarivo. Ibis Hotel. In the evening, we go to a club to hear contemporary Malagasy music.

Tues, 28 May:
Transfer to the airport and depart for Paris.

Wed, 29 May:
Arrive in Paris in the morning and connect with the flight to the UK.

Price: Ł2475/US$3585 per person sharing
Single supplement: Ł195/US$283

Participants from North America may prefer to join the group in Paris or in Antananarivo.

*Literally 'Malagasy song', the hira gasy is performed as theatre, with a mixture of song, dance, and speech. Originating in Imerina, it aimed at a public of villagers until King Andrianampoinimerina made it famous by associating it with all royal events.
The mpihira gasy, the 'Malagasy singers' are rustic artists, very
popular but poor . The hira gasy is a national art and performances attract people from every part of the country.

On 14th February, 2002, the BBC World Service broadcasts the first programme in the series People And Places: Songs Of The Earth in which Ruth Evans meets the people of Madagascar and listens to their music. In the London region, tune in to 648 MW at 20h30.
There is another chance to hear the programme at 15h30 on Friday, 15th February.
For information about transmission frequencies and times elsewhere, consult the BBC World Service website.

Ian Anderson, author of the chapter about Malagasy music in Rough Guide To World Music, has a fascinating article about the guitar in Malagasy music in FolkRoots.
He also provides a comprehensive list of CDs.
Beverly A. Mendheim's reviews provide information about Malagasy artists and musical traditions.