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Medieval Swahili in Madagascar.

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Taken from : LE ROYAUME SAKALAVA DU MENABE Essai d’analyse d’un système politique à MADAGASCAR 17è - 20è par Jacques Lombard (1988)

 

P11

The constitution of large political units in the South and West of Madagascar is due to the arrival of Islamized groups in the North of the Island during the 13th century. (These are the Swahili who lived on the NW and NE coast of Madagascar). Originating from the North and West of the Indian Ocean, made up of highly mixed elements, this new population will spread from North to South, gradually losing its reference to Islam. A tradition from Menabe (1) locates near Diego-Suarez, their point of arrival in Madagascar, at Antolan-Sivy and at Baobe-omby or Bibiomby. Then, they would have divided into 3 groups; the first, called Sarifo and heading west “brings the books”, he gives birth to the Antalaotra; the second, also carrying books, is at the origin of the Zafi-Raminia and the Antemoro; finally, the third, “without books”, constitutes the group of Onjouatse (Onjatsy) to the north of Vohémar.

The Antalaotra (2) founded towns and trading posts sheltered by the numerous bays of the northwest coast: Mahilaka in the bay of Ampasindava, Nosy-mamako to the west of the same bay, Sada erected on the almost island of Anorontsangana, Nosy-manja or the old Masselage in the bay of Mahajamba, Nosy-Boina or the new Masselage. They will be the only ones to maintain the practice of Islam.

The migration towards the South lasted two centuries, gradually enriched by external contributions on the East coast, leading to the creation of the Antemoro kingdom in the 14th century under the aegis of two Arabized groups, the Anteofiy and the Antalaotra (3). The first Sorabe, transcription in Arabic script of the Malagasy language appear at this time. These are collections of “Arab knowledge” (divination, astrology, magical practices, etc.) which will constitute the ideological framework of the future kingdoms of the West (4).

 

(1) History of the Maroserana and the Misara collected from Mr Maneza on September 1, 1972. Cf. Lombard 1976.

(2) Antalaotra (= foreigners coming from oversees)

(3) They have the same name as those in the North-West but they are a different group.

(4) We understand by “Arab knowledge” the set of “intellectual or magico-religious” practices which were recorded among the Sorabe.

 

P13

Unlike the Antalaotra of the North who were in contact with the Sunnis of Malindi, Kiloa (1) and later the Sultanate of Muscat, the antemoro groups lost the practice of Islam but nevertheless retained their sociological originality through the different registers of “Arab knowledge” (2) of which they remain the depositaries. Finally, the tradition that we mentioned above, while clearly emphasizing the propagation of “books” by the first two groups, also testifies to the origin of the cattle (Bibiomby) (3). All Malagasy traditions agree that the cattle “comes out of the water” and the traditions specific to the Zafi-Raminia (4) tell us of the arrival in the Big Island of 30 cows led by a mythical animal called Valalanampy. Zebu cattle had already been imported to Madagascar before the arrival of the Arabs (=Swahili), but the latter made cattle the source of wealth and the symbol of power by promoting the development of livestock farming. The Antemoro kings alone had the privilege of sombily, ritual slaughter of cattle, in return for royalties. Heirs of the Arabized people of the East Coast, the dynasties conquerors of the West will be able to ensure control of livestock breeding in the new territories and make it the tool of their dual power:

- economic, faced with communities of hunter-collectors and farmers, the development of extensive livestock farming will ensure newcomers take first place in the production and accumulation of wealth.

- political, cattle becomes currency. The new power controls its circulation and distribution through ceremonial services, the basis of status and social prestige and which operates within the framework of the political institutions of royalty.

 

These two factors, the arrival of “foreigners” carrying political science and the development of extensive livestock farming are at the origin of the constitution of large political units in Western Madagascar.

 

Note that there were also Swahili immigrants on the deep south coast of Madagascar, from the days before thr Swahili became international traders. See my webpage on Bandar Abyah (southwest of Fort Dauphin) and on Mankar (Ambodisiny) and on Ras Hufa (unknown) and on Bandar Hant (Linta Rivermouth (around Androka)).

 

(1) East coast of Africa.

(2) See note 4-previous page.

(3) Lit. biby-omby, zebu animal, omby translates zebu into Malagasy.

(4) History of the Zafi-Raminia by RAVALARIVO. Undated manuscript of 6 pages. GRANDIDIER Fund. Museum of Man - Paris.