Antandroy
Encyclopedia
The Antandroy are a traditionally nomadic ethnic group of Madagascar
inhabiting the arid southern part of the island called Androy
roughly located between Amboasary
and Beloha
and between the ocean and Bekily
. Their name means "people of the thorns" in reference to the spiny thickets
of endemic plants that characterize the southwestern region of Madagascar
. The Antandroy speak a dialect of the Malagasy language
, which is a branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language group
derived from the Barito languages
, spoken in southern Borneo
.
The Antandroy consume less rice than the average Malagasy
because of the extreme aridity of Toliara
province. They have rather subsisted on a traditional diet
of maize, sweet potato, manioc, and zebu
milk and curd.
Whereas most dwellings in Madagascar are traditionally constructed from pliable plant materials, the Antandroy are one of the few ethnic groups to use wood plank in their homes
. They build tombs similar to those of the Mahafaly
.
They are celebrated for their unique traditional dances, performed with spears and accompanied with distinctive music
punctuated with shrill fipple flutes.
Ethnic groups of Madagascar
The number of ethnic groups of Madagascar has long been a point of contention and debate. The island of Madagascar is predominantly populated by people broadly classified as belonging to the broader Malagasy ethnic identity...
inhabiting the arid southern part of the island called Androy
Androy
Androy is a region in southern Madagascar.*Capital: Ambovombe-Androy*Chief: Andrien Hatrifenjanahary AreaAndroy is the most southern region of Madagascar...
roughly located between Amboasary
Amboasary
Amboasary is a town in Anosy Region, Madagascar....
and Beloha
Beloha
Beloha is a town in Androy Region, Madagascar.Beloha is a town in Androy Region, Madagascar.Beloha is a town in Androy Region, Madagascar....
and between the ocean and Bekily
Bekily
Bekily is a town in Toliara Province, Madagascar....
. Their name means "people of the thorns" in reference to the spiny thickets
Madagascar spiny thickets
The Madagascar spiny thickets is an ecoregion in Madagascar. The vegetation type is found on poor substrates with low, erratic winter rainfall. An estimated 14,000 to is covered with this habitat, all in the southwest of the country...
of endemic plants that characterize the southwestern region of Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. The Antandroy speak a dialect of the Malagasy language
Malagasy language
Malagasy is the national language of Madagascar, a member of the Austronesian family of languages. Most people in Madagascar speak it as a first language as do some people of Malagasy descent elsewhere.-History:...
, which is a branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language group
Malayo-Polynesian languages
The Malayo-Polynesian languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages, with approximately 385.5 million speakers. These are widely dispersed throughout the island nations of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean, with a smaller number in continental Asia...
derived from the Barito languages
Barito languages
The Barito languages are a score of Dayak languages of Borneo, and most famously Malagasy, the national language of Madagascar. They are named after the Barito River....
, spoken in southern Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
.
The Antandroy consume less rice than the average Malagasy
Malagasy people
The Malagasy ethnic group forms nearly the entire population of Madagascar. They are divided into two subgroups: the "Highlander" Merina, Sihanaka and Betsileo of the central plateau around Antananarivo, Alaotra and Fianarantsoa, and the côtiers elsewhere in the country. This division has its...
because of the extreme aridity of Toliara
Toliara
-References:...
province. They have rather subsisted on a traditional diet
Cuisine of Madagascar
Malagasy cuisine encompasses the many diverse culinary traditions of the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar. Foods eaten in Madagascar reflect the influence of Southeast Asian, African, Indian, Chinese and European migrants that have settled on the island since it was first populated by seafarers...
of maize, sweet potato, manioc, and zebu
Zebu
Zebu , sometimes known as humped cattle, indicus cattle, Cebu or Brahmin cattle are a type of domestic cattle originating in South Asia, particularly the Indian subcontinent. They are characterised by a fatty hump on their shoulders, drooping ears and a large dewlap...
milk and curd.
Whereas most dwellings in Madagascar are traditionally constructed from pliable plant materials, the Antandroy are one of the few ethnic groups to use wood plank in their homes
Architecture of Madagascar
The architecture of Madagascar is unique in Africa, bearing strong resemblance to the construction norms and methods of Southern Borneo from which the earliest inhabitants of Madagascar are believed to have emigrated...
. They build tombs similar to those of the Mahafaly
Mahafaly
The Mahafaly are an ethnic group of Madagascar that inhabit the plains of the Betioky-Ampamihy area. Their name means either "those who make taboos" or "those who make happy", although the former is considered more likely by linguists...
.
They are celebrated for their unique traditional dances, performed with spears and accompanied with distinctive music
Music of Madagascar
The highly diverse and distinctive music of Madagascar has been shaped by the musical traditions of Southeast Asia, Africa, Arabia, England, France and the United States as successive waves of settlers have made the island their home...
punctuated with shrill fipple flutes.