Radama I and the Alphabet That Replaced an Older Script
Radama I united two-thirds of Madagascar, was the first king recognised by Britain, and in 1823 switched Malagasy to the Latin alphabet — a choice that still shapes the language.
Category: Insider Madagascar
The Twelve Sacred Hills of Imerina, Explained
Antananarivo rose from twelve sacred hills — former capitals, royal birthplaces and tombs that are the cradle of the Merina kingdom. What they mean and which to visit.
Andrianampoinimerina: the King Who United Imerina
How a highland king reunified Imerina after decades of civil war and set Madagascar on the path to unification — ‘the sea is the boundary of my rice field.’
The Elephant Bird: the Giant That Once Ruled Madagascar
Madagascar’s elephant bird was the heaviest bird that ever lived — 3 m tall, with a 10 kg egg. Its size, the kiwi link, the Roc legend, and what killed it.
The Aye-Aye: Why Madagascar’s Strangest Lemur Is an Omen of Death
Why Madagascar’s strangest lemur, the aye-aye, is feared as an omen of death — the fady behind the killings, the real biology, and what it means for its survival.
The Traveller’s Palm: Madagascar’s Natural Compass That Isn’t
Madagascar’s traveller’s palm isn’t a palm, isn’t a reliable compass, and is pollinated by lemurs. The real story behind the island’s most famous plant.
Lake Tritriva: Madagascar’s Deepest, Most Haunted Lake
Lake Tritriva near Antsirabe is Madagascar’s deepest lake — a sacred volcanic crater with a tragic love legend and a water level that defies the seasons.