Rangita
Encyclopedia
Queen Rangita also known as Rangitamanjakatrimovavy, was a Vazimba
sovereign who ruled at Merimanjaka in the central highlands of Madagascar
after her father, King Andrianmpandramanenitra (Rafandramanenitra). She was succeeded upon her death by her daughter (some sources say her adopted sister), Queen Rafohy
(1530-1540). Oral tradition is unclear about the roles and relations of Rangita and Rafohy to one another. This lack of clarity includes who was the mother to whom, who succeeded whom and which one was the mother of Andriamanelo. According to one version of the oral tradition, Rangita had two sons, and possibly one daughter, Rafohy. These accounts relate that Rangita shared the stereotypical Vazimba physical characteristics of small stature and dark skin, and her name means "kinky-haired."
It was customary among the vazimba to submerge the bodies of the dead in bodies of water that were designated as sacred for that purpose; it is said that upon Rangita's death, she (like Rafohy) was placed in a silver coffin made to look like an outrigger canoe, which was then submerged in a sacred bog.
Vazimba
The Vazimba , according to popular belief, were the first inhabitants of Madagascar. While beliefs about the physical appearance of the Vazimba reflect regional variation, they are generally described as smaller in stature than the average person, leading some scientists to speculate that they may...
sovereign who ruled at Merimanjaka in the central highlands of Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
after her father, King Andrianmpandramanenitra (Rafandramanenitra). She was succeeded upon her death by her daughter (some sources say her adopted sister), Queen Rafohy
Rafohy
Queen Rafohy was a Vazimba queen who ruled at Alasora in the central Highlands of Madagascar until her death. Her name means "The Short One." She succeeded upon the death of Vazimba Queen Rangita, who by different accounts was either her mother or her adoptive sister...
(1530-1540). Oral tradition is unclear about the roles and relations of Rangita and Rafohy to one another. This lack of clarity includes who was the mother to whom, who succeeded whom and which one was the mother of Andriamanelo. According to one version of the oral tradition, Rangita had two sons, and possibly one daughter, Rafohy. These accounts relate that Rangita shared the stereotypical Vazimba physical characteristics of small stature and dark skin, and her name means "kinky-haired."
It was customary among the vazimba to submerge the bodies of the dead in bodies of water that were designated as sacred for that purpose; it is said that upon Rangita's death, she (like Rafohy) was placed in a silver coffin made to look like an outrigger canoe, which was then submerged in a sacred bog.