~Madagascar~

Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic), is an
island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth largest island in the
world, and is home to five percent of the world's plant and animal species,
more than 80 percent of which are endemic to Madagascar.

Thirteen million Malagasy inhabit Madagascar. Exactly how and when
the early Malagasy discovered and settled the island is not known. They have a
dual Indonesian and African origin, attested by their physical features,
language, agricultural practices, and customs. In spite of their diversity,
they are united by a common language, rooted in the ancient Malayo-Polynesian,
ancestor of the tongues spoken in the vast area bounded by Hawaii,
the Tuamotu and Madagascar.
The modern language has been enriched by words imported from Bantu tongues,
Swahili, Arabic, English and French.

However, if you are flexible and looking for the unexpected, if you want to
meet some extraordinary people, then go and discover this fascinating island!

Religion: Estimated 55 percent hold indigenous beliefs; 40 percent Christian,
evenly divided between Roman Catholics and Protestants; 5 percent Muslim.

Madagascar's
people have a very great respect for their ancestors; their ancestors are
looked upon as gods. Their houses have only one room, and the front door is
always faced east in order to respect their ancestors. Madagascar's
people believe and pray always to their ancestors. If a member of their family
dies, they organize a big festival, or a big party; they eat, drink and
dance--for the dead they spare no expense. They sacrifice a cow, and around the
graveyard they dance until morning. We can say that their funerals are very
cheerful. People are afraid of the curse of their ancestors, so once a year,
they take corpses out from the graveyard to change their clothes. People are
expected to have reverence for their descendants while they are alive.