Culture: Influence and Religion

Madagascar has a very unique and mysterious culture. Many other countries have influenced much of its culture. The Arabs who set up their trading posts their, The King Andrianampoinimerina,of the Malagasy tribe, and the French who conquered it and first colonized it. But because of its geographical location, right between Africa and Asia, its culture is unique. Many people do not know where the first Madagascans first came from. Some archeologists say that people came from both Asia and Africa in 1000 A.D. they say this because of the discovery of old cooking pots and vases that they have discovered. The ethnicity of the Madagascans has been determined as half Asian half African. They are called Deschamps in African. 52% of the citizens of madagascar still follow their ancient tribes indigenous religions while 41% is christian and the other 7% is muslim. There has not been much conflict between these religions and the country of madagascar has three official languages. French, English, Malagasy.