Zafimaniry

The Zafimaniry are a sub-group of the Betsileo ethnic group of Madagascar. They live in the forested mountains of the southern central highlands southeast of Ambositra, between the neighboring Betsileo and Tanala peoples. There are approximately 100 Zafimaniry villages, which support a population of approximately 25,000. The Zafimaniry speak a dialect of the Malagasy language, which is a branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language group which comes from the Barito languages, that are spoken in southern Borneo.

Key facts

Ethnic group.group: Zafimaniry
Ethnic group.image: Zafimaniry woman.jpg
Ethnic group.image_caption: Zafimaniry woman drying rice
Ethnic group.total: c. 15,000
Ethnic group.popplace: Madagascar
Ethnic group.langs: Malagasy and French
Ethnic group.related: Betsileo; other Malagasy groups; Austronesian peoples

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Wikidata facts

Image: Zafimaniry woman.jpg

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Commons category: Zafimaniry people

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Article

15 sections

Contents

Ethnic identity
History
Society
Family affiliation
Class affiliation
Religious affiliation
Culture
Funeral rites
Dance and music
Language
Economy
See also
References
External links
Bibliography

They are known for their woodcarving knowledge and art, which was added in 2003 to UNESCO's list of the world's Intangible Cultural Heritage. This style of woodworking was once common throughout Madagascar but has decreased because of deforestation. Their art is considered by historians to provide insight into the applied arts of the past in Madagascar.