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| Bins of Vegetables for Sale in Zoma
Market in Tananarive. -- Photo courtesy of
Africa Focus |
The Democratic Republic of Madagascar, formerly
known as the Malagasy Republic, is perhaps best
known for its spectacular nature and incredible
variety of unique plant and animal life. Separated
from the African mainland by the Mozambique Channel,
the island abounds with rainforests, tropical
beaches, small islands and coral reefs, and protected
national parks. The lemur, numerous species of
butterflies, birds and amphibians, half of the
world's chameleons, and 80 percent of Madagascar's
plant life are endemic to the island.
The population of Madagascar is also a unique
mixture of races. The majority of the island's
initial immigrants were from Indonesia and South
East Asia who, over the course of 2000 years,
intermixed with migrants from the African mainland
as well as Arab and European traders. Today, there
are 18 official tribes in Madagascar. Over half
of the population practices traditional religions,
while approximately 40 percent are Christian and
seven percent are Muslim. French and Malagasy
are the official languages of the island.
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| Insect-Eating Pitcher Plant of Madagascar.
-- Photo courtesy of Africa Focus |
Cultural traditions in Madagascar are also distinctly
Malagasy. Rich traditions of folklore, funeral
rituals, stone and wood carvings, and public performances
that combine oratory, music, and dance are widespread
in Madagascar.
Madagascar is divided into east and west by the
Hauts Plateaux mountain chain. The capital of
Madagascar, Antananarivo (commonly called "Tana"),
is situated in the center of the island in the
Hauts Plateaux. The University of Madagascar in
Antananarivo has hosted the majority of U.S. Fulbright
Scholars.
Since 1974, the Fulbright Scholar Program has
awarded over 25 grants to U.S. scholars for Madagascar
- approximately 40 percent lecturing, 40 percent
research, and 10 percent combined research/lecturing.
Several Fulbright Scholars renewed their lecturing
grants for an additional term.
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| A Pirogue Used to Transport Produce
to Markets. -- Photo courtesy of Africa Focus |
Fulbright grant packages for Madagascar include
support for tuition and fees for accompanying
children. Since 1990, two-thirds of Fulbright
Scholars in Madagascar have been accompanied by
spouses and/or children.
CIES encourages interested applicants to make
use of the following links to complement their
research into potential opportunities available
in Madagascar. Please also feel free to use the
contact information to get in touch with CIES
program personnel.
Embassy of Madagascar in Washington D.C.
http://www.embassy.org/madagascar/
General information on Madagascar, including visa
requirements, health, culture, tourism, and a links
to other Madagascar resources.
U.S. Embassy in Antananarivo, Madagascar
http://www.usmission.mg/
Consular services, public affairs information
and resources, reports on current events, and
a number of links to topical issues of importance
in Africa.
Embassy World website
http://www.embassyworld.com/maps/Maps_Of_Madagascar.html
Links to a variety of standard and interactive
maps of Madagascar.
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General
Country Information
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Le Guide de Madagascar
http://www.madagascar-guide.com/
In French. Includes practical information, detailed
maps, sections on history and culture, and activities
in Madagascar.
Madagascar Cultural Alliance, Inc.
http://www.mcai.org/mca3e.htm
Madagascar Cultural Alliance Inc. is a non-profit
organization promoting Malagasy culture and language.
The website includes resources on arts and crafts,
music, and events, as well as essays on folklore
and culture in Madagascar.
Madagasikara - the Rainbow Island
http://archive.dstc.edu.au/AU/staff/andry/Mada.html
Variety of information on Madagascar's flora,
fauna, landscapes, culture, people, musicians,
authors, proverbs, and more.
The Africa Guide
http://www.africaguide.com/country/madagas/index.htm
Useful information for visitors to Madagascar.
Also includes a number of links to books, music,
and other information pertaining to Madagascar.
Mbendi - Information for Africa
http://www.mbendi.co.za/land/af/md/p0005.htm
News reports, upcoming events, political and economic
outlooks, industry information, and general information
pertaining to Madagascar.
The Lonely Planet
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/africa/madagascar/
Traveler's information on Madagascar, including
sections on events, activities, culture, and history.
U.S. Department of State
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/bgn/5460.htm
Background information on Madagascar including
political conditions, foreign relations, relations
with the U.S., history, people, government, economy,
and business.
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Newspapers
/ Current Events
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Midi Madagasikara
http://www.dts.mg/midi/
In French.
Madonline
http://www.madonline.com/
In French and English. Online magazine about Madagascar.
All Africa
http://allafrica.com/madagascar/
News stories pertaining to Madagascar.
Africa Online
http://www.africaonline.com/site/
General news for all of Africa including business
and discussions, including country-specific information.
University of Antananarivo
http://www.misa.mg/univ/antanana/antanana.htm
In French.
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Chat rooms
/ Discussion Groups
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Madagascar Contacts
http://www.madagascar-contacts.com/chat.htm
In French.
Africa Focus - Sights and Sounds of a Continent
http://africafocus.library.wisc.edu/
A fantastic Online collection of photographs and
digitized sound recordings from every country in
Africa, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Libraries and the University of Wisconsin-Madison
African Studies Program.
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