Betsimisaraka people
Videos
The Betsimisaraka are the second largest ethnic group in Madagascar after the Merina and make up approximately fifteen percent of the Malagasy people. They occupy a large stretch of the eastern coasta
Betsimisaraka women
Ratsimilaho ruled the united Betsimisaraka from his capital at modern day Foulpointe.
A pirate cemetery at Nosy Boraha. The zana-malata subset of the Betsimisaraka traced their heritage back to intermarriage between European pirates and Betsimisaraka women.
A Betsimisarakian hen house and a rice barn in 1911, Fenerive. Photo by Walter Kaudern.
Tsimihety people
Videos
The Tsimihety are a Malagasy ethnic group who are found in the north-central region of Madagascar. Their name means "those who never cut their hair", a behavior likely linked to their independence fro
Two Tsimihety individuals
Philibert Tsiranana, from the Tsimihety ethnic group, was the first president of post-colonial era Madagascar.