The Tanindrana form a whole of Malagasy people of whose traditional territory touches the areas of the littoral or is associated there, from the point of view of the Merina being used as point of reference. In the language merina, “indrana” meant “side”, “borders” or “periphery”.

Thus, are also comparable “tanindrana” (or “coastal”, according to the usual French translation) the people Bara, Tanala, Zafimaniry or bezanozano living well far from the coast. Curiously however, the Betsileo and, in a a little less measurement, the Sihanaka are not in general regarded as “tanindrana”. The reason in is undoubtedly of a cultural or historical nature.

At the time modern, in the political use, “tanindrana” is especially used to indicate the coalition of the people being opposed to the “capacity merina”. In this particular direction, even Betsileo and Sihanaka can also be integrated among Tanindrana, like had already done it PADESM after the Second world war.