Malagasy Art

Art and music from a particular nation can tell someone a lot 
about the culture of the country. It can also  help someone 
learn a lot about the history of the nation as well. Madagascar is known for it's textiles, which include raffia, cotton, and silk. Merchants from other countries would come to Madagascar to trade for these textiles. 

The people of Madagascar use these textiles to make art. They would use the leaves of a raffia tree, which is a type of palm tree found in Madagascar and other parts of Africa, to make textile art. They would use this material to hand weave fabrics. This picture is an example of a raffia wrapper. This could be used for clothing and sometimes as a mosquito net. 

Another type of art that is found in Madagascar is 
known as akotifahana, which is made from silk. This 
fabric is made with bright colors and beautiful 
patterns. They make akotifahana by hand weaving 
silk. Akotifahana is usually worn by nobles, or kings 
and queens. 

                                         

The people of southwestern Madagascar would wear amulets called Ody because they believed they would keep them healthy and safe. They were made from the horns of the zebu cattle. The Sakalava people were often cattle thieves and believed that these odys would keep the man from being seen while he was stealing the cattle. Stealing cattle was seen as a sign of masculinity for the Sakalava people. 

                                                                                                                             

http://www.rom.on.ca/en/collections-research/research/the-handweaving-arts-of-madagascar
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1999.47.114