Merina - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

Structure of the company

The traditional core of the people merina (initially, the merina- Ambaniandro) is consisted the two great subdivisions known as “Hova” and “Andriana”, established by king Ralambo at the 16th century. Its members are characterized by their Asian aspect (Indonesia N) marked: right hair, skin color going from brown dark to the very clear yellow, rather fine stoutness, etc With these two groups are added, as from the 19th century, the whole of the Mainti-enindreny gathering the black slaves freed, or rather only devoted to the service of the royalty. With the establishment of the colonial capacity, the French also include there, as Hovavao or “new Hova”, the mass of the lately freed slaves, originating in the outlying areas or even in Africa in the case of the Mozambican Masombika or .

Civilization

Mérina civilization, as in theory that of all the other populations of Madagascar east of origin primarily indonésienne. Possible the " apports" cultural of another origin, in fact those resulting from the African continent or the world arabo-Moslem remain generally hypothetical and strongly prone to discussion. So much so that in the case merina, except for the designation of some of utility objects introduced by the trade, it is difficult to quote only one example of convincing cultural loan. Indeed, the rare cultural elements presenting of the analogies between Imerina and the African continent find practically all in Southeast Asia and could just as easily represent Asian influences in Eastern Africa.

This traditional civilization merina is dominated by the Riz iculture. The villages were often built in height and were equipped with solids fortifications, consisted of defensive pits several lines ( adivory ) and walls ( tamboho ) being able to reach several meters height, closed by enormous stone discs. To perpetuate the ancestral traditions indonésiennes, the dwellings of noble were out of wood while those of the common people were out of beaten ground. Clothing was containing Coton or of indigenous Soie ( landy ). The social structure knew a strong hierarchisation, energy of the king ( Mpanjaka ) at the top to the slaves ( Andevo ) with the bottom of the social scale, while passing through the various categories of noble ( andriana ) and the common people ( hova ). The marriages were in theory endogamic, the unions having to be carried out only inside each great subdivision: the Andriana with Andriana, while following certain precise rules, the Hova between them and the Mainti-enindreny with others Mainty or Andevo. The villages were managed in a democratic way and enjoyed a broad autonomy within the framework of the institution of the Fokonolona, a kind of commune resting on a ic basis Clan.

Religion

The traditional religion merina was a kind of Polythéisme with at its top a creative principle called Andriamanitra or Zanahary . Crowned or masina held a central place in all the aspects of the social life. The homages to the sovereign, compared to a divinity was described as fanasinana , sacralization (rather than of “sanctification”!). The merina believed that it was its spirit which made to the gasoline even human being ( Ny fanahy No olona ). They also thought that after death, the spirits of late joined the world of the ancestors, a parallel world sometimes localized on an high mountain. These spirits in connection with the living beings (including sometimes the animals) were several kinds, among which “doubles” ( ambiroa , avelo ), “shades” ( tandindona ) or “phantoms” ( matoatoa ).

There did not exist specific priests but shaman - healers ( ombiasy ) or astrologers ( mpanandro ) acting as specialists in crowned and the relationships to the “obscure forces”. The latter also fought the mpamosavy , considered as wizards malefic. In connection with the service of the royalty the worship of the crowned sampy or palladiums developed then tardily.

The habits included/understood the circumcision of the young boys (between 5 and 12 years) and, for the funeral, the practice of the Famadihana or periodic reinterment of the funeral remainders in caveaux megalithic collective. The social activities merina culminated with the annual celebration of the Fandroana, at the same time festival of the crowned Bath, the sacralization of the royalty, the family and the new year.

Since the conversion of the queen Ranavalona II into 1868, a considerable portion of the people merina became nominally Christian (rebik' ondry). Many old beliefs or of the traditional practices however continue to remain and even now seem to find a new strength among the members of the post-modern elite, with a feeling of return to the sources and the ancestral practices of before colonization.

Language

The language merina belongs to the group known as " Barito " Austronesian branch of the languages austronésiennes. It is at the base of the “Malagasy” or “official Malgache” is spoken nowadays as native tongue by approximately the quarter about the population about Madagascar. Like language of administration, it is however virtually included/understood by unit of inhabitants of island, which continue locally to practice their own languages (or dialects) which can be rather different from the merina, and more still between them.

Music

The traditional musical instruments of Merina included/understood the Valiha , the Sodina (Flûte, Malayan cf suling ), the lokanga (kind of violin), the Guimbarde and various types of drum. Merina appreciated much the poems that they arrangaient in the form of Hain-teny , a literary kind which one also finds among all other Austronesian people.

History

The traditions merina lost the memory of the maritime past of the ancestors of the group, and even of their long stay in the coastal regions during the first millenium. The first sovereigns whom they recognize are thus princes of the interior of the grounds, having reigned it seems towards 12th or the 13th century. The unification of the territory starts at the 16th century with the king Andriamanelo and its successors, Ralambo and Andrianjaka. This one becomes however final only with Andrianampoinimerina at the beginning of the 19th century. Starting from Radama, wire and successor of this last, the country merina opens with the European influences and quickly extends its control on the major part of Madagascar. It is this kingdom merina increased which is seen thus recognized like Royaume of Madagascar by the European powers at the 19th century, until the moment of the establishment of the colonial capacity starting from 1896. The company merina sudden of deep transformations, while being modernized, during the same period grace in particular to the development of the teaching, introduced by the Protestant missionaries British. In 1869, with the conversion of the Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony, Protestantism becomes the official religion of the kingdom.

With the movement of VVS ( Vy Vato Sakelika ) in 1915 and then of MDRM (Democratic movement of the Malagasy restoration) in 1946, Merina play a paramount role in the fight for the restoration of the independence of Madagascar. But the failure of the MDRM, follow-up of the terrible repression of 1947 affects their political dynamism durably. They had thus to attend in more or less passive witnesses the establishment of the independent Malagasy Republic starting from 1960 and truly start to awake only during the Années 1990. Marc Ravalomanana, the president of the Republic of Madagascar in station since 2002 is of origin merina.

See too

External bonds

the MERINA
Merina-Hova - Joshua Project
Merina-Vakinankaratra - Joshua Project

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