Sihanaka
Encyclopedia
The Sihanaka are an ethnic group in Madagascar
concentrated around Lake Alaotra
and the town of Ambatondrazaka
. Their name means the "people of the swamps" in reference to the marshlands around Lake Alaotra
that they inhabit. The Sihanaka 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
.
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...
concentrated around Lake Alaotra
Lake Alaotra
Lake Alaotra is the largest lake in Madagascar, located in Toamasina Province, in the northern central plateau. Its basin is composed of shallow freshwater lakes and marshes surrounded by areas of dense vegetation. It forms the center of the island's most important rice-growing region...
and the town of Ambatondrazaka
Ambatondrazaka
Ambatondrazaka is a city in MadagascarAmbatondrazaka is also the capital of the Alaotra-Mangoro region.- History :The oral history states the town was founded by Randriambololona and children. The recorded history of the town begins with Radama I of Madagascar.- Transports :The city is at the MLA...
. Their name means the "people of the swamps" in reference to the marshlands around Lake Alaotra
Lake Alaotra
Lake Alaotra is the largest lake in Madagascar, located in Toamasina Province, in the northern central plateau. Its basin is composed of shallow freshwater lakes and marshes surrounded by areas of dense vegetation. It forms the center of the island's most important rice-growing region...
that they inhabit. The Sihanaka 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....
.