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Madagascar: background

Last modified: 2002-05-10 by jarig bakker
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by Antonio Martins 24 April 1999 See also:

Background information

For way of symbolism, the red and white refer to Madagascar's SE Asian links (I believe the island was first settled by SE Asians).
David Kendall, 20 June 1995

Do you think the colors are related to the Indonesian ones (which in turn are derived from the colors of the liberation movement)?
Harald Müller, 11 October 1996

Very likely as, if I recall correctly, the Malagasy are supposed to have come from Malaysia / Indonesia, and the red-and-white Indonesian flag is said to be of pre-European origin.
Roy Stilling, 11 October 1996

Inhabitants of Malayo-Indonesian origin were not the first settlers. There were populations from Africa before. As you probably know, major African civilizations were not attracted to the seashore, for various reasons, including quest for healthier places, and this goes for Madagascar as well. When navigators from SE Asia arrived, they gained political supremacy and thus built their kingdom in the highlands (where Antananarivo now lies), while unmitigated Africans were more or less forced to move towards the coast. This is why the majority is Merina inside the country and Sakalave or related people near the sea (this is the same group as in the Comores, for instance). This is just from memory, but I think that it should be globally right.
Were there "African" flags or banners in Madagascar before Asians came in ?
Thanh-Tâm Lê, 2 January 1999

Official name of the country was changed in 1995 and is now: Repoblikan'i Madagasikar (Republic of Madagascar).