Antalaotra
 The Antalaotra, a coastal group with strong East African features, unlike typical Malagasy population. | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Madagascar (Mahajanga) Mayotte | |
| Languages | |
| Kiantalaotsy Northern Sakalava Shimaore French | |
| Religion | |
| Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Swahillis , Other Malagasy ethnic groups |
The Antalaotra are a small ethnic group from the northwest region of Madagascar. [1]
Etymology
[edit]The name Antalaotra comes from the Malagasy language and means "people of the sea,"[2]
History
[edit]The Antalaotra descended from Swahili traders who settled in Madagascar between the 10th and 12th centuries marrying Malagasy women or Makoa wives and adopting Malagasy language. The Antalaotra acted as trade facilitators between Madagascar and the East African coast. In 1506,the Portuguese tried to break their trade monopoly by launching raids killing both Arabs and Antalaotra and looting their settlements but eventually failed.[3] The Antalaotra became vassals of the Kingdom of Boina in the 18th Century after the conquest of Andriamandisoarivo.[4] Many Antalaotra fled to Mayotte during the Merina-Sakalava war in the 19th Century especially when the Merina army burned their capital Mahajanga. [5]
Geographic Location
[edit]The Antalaotra live mostly in Mahajanga and Mayotte.
Culture
[edit]Antalaotra culture is more East African than the rest of Malagasy. Most of Antalaotra bear Arabic or Swahili names and they adopt rarely Malagasy names. Their language is Kiantalaotsy, a Malagasy dialect very influenced by Swahili.
Religion
[edit]The Antalaotra were among the first to bring Islam to Madagascar.
See Also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Kent, Raymond K. Early Kingdoms in Madagascar. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1970.
- ^ Freeman, Luke. Madagascar: A Cultural History. Cultural Histories Press, 2006.
- ^ Hubert Deschamps, Histoire de Madagascar, p. 63
- ^ "Le roi du Boina doté d'une autorité suprême." L'Express de Madagascar, 30 juillet 2018. [1]. Accessed 13 May 2025.
- ^ Guillain, Charles. Documents sur l'histoire, la géographie et le commerce de la partie occidentale de Madagascar, p. 121, 1845.