Anglo-Malagasy Society Newsletter 4: December 1978 |
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The four meetings which the Society will have held before 1978 is out show that it is learning about some plans for the future; entertaining distinguished visitors who can say something about the present; and trying to keep up with modern knowledge about the past.
Development
The Annual Dinner was reported in the last Letter. At the second meeting held in May at the premises of Messrs Ove Arup and Partners, Miss Jill Harmsworth, who had just spent several months in Madagascar on behalf of United Nations International Service, outlined the hopes of that organisation to send volunteers out again. Formerly the main contribution was in education. But now agreement is being sought with the Government so that volunteers will be able to work in close collaboration with local communities in a variety of small projects requiring certain technical skills. She later returned to Madagascar to further discussions and is still there.
As the Society has had two recent talks related to development, it may be of interest to recall the contribution to general theory made by D A Segre, who spent some time in Antananarivo and addressed a meeting at the residence of the Malagasy Ambassador ten years ago. His book The High Road and the Low contains a section on The Case of Madagascar. A rather longer study is entitled Madagascar: An Example of Indigenous Modernization of a Traditional Society in the 19th Century. (St Anthony’s Papers, 1969). His last sentence in The Case may be of interest to historians: ‘The key to an understanding of the succession of events in Madagascar in the nineteenth century is not so much the battle between French and British imperialism in the western Indian Ocean, as the battle between foreign and native legitimization of modernization in the Malagasy society itself’. While on the subject of development it may be as well to quote a statement made by President Ratsiraka: ‘Our principle is clear: we accept aid which helps us to dispense with aid, whether it comes from the East or the West, except that from racists, and on condition also that the help given does not compromise our dignity and national sovereignty’. The ‘Socialist Development Plan’ was adopted by the National Assembly in 1977. The aim is described as ‘political and economic independence; harmonious development in social, economic and cultural areas, ensuring an equilibrium both within and between regions. In other words, the complete socialisation of the main strategic sectors and activities, full employment, the doubling, at least, of per capita income, the satisfaction of fundamental economic, social and cultural needs’. The Plan covers the years to 2000, divided into three periods: 1978–84, 1985–92, 1993–2000.
As the Society has had two recent talks related to development, it may be of interest to recall the contribution to general theory made by D A Segre, who spent some time in Antananarivo and addressed a meeting at the residence of the Malagasy Ambassador ten years ago. His book The High Road and the Low contains a section on The Case of Madagascar. A rather longer study is entitled Madagascar: An Example of Indigenous Modernization of a Traditional Society in the 19th Century. (St Anthony’s Papers, 1969). His last sentence in The Case may be of interest to historians: ‘The key to an understanding of the succession of events in Madagascar in the nineteenth century is not so much the battle between French and British imperialism in the western Indian Ocean, as the battle between foreign and native legitimization of modernization in the Malagasy society itself’. While on the subject of development it may be as well to quote a statement made by President Ratsiraka: ‘Our principle is clear: we accept aid which helps us to dispense with aid, whether it comes from the East or the West, except that from racists, and on condition also that the help given does not compromise our dignity and national sovereignty’. The ‘Socialist Development Plan’ was adopted by the National Assembly in 1977. The aim is described as ‘political and economic independence; harmonious development in social, economic and cultural areas, ensuring an equilibrium both within and between regions. In other words, the complete socialisation of the main strategic sectors and activities, full employment, the doubling, at least, of per capita income, the satisfaction of fundamental economic, social and cultural needs’. The Plan covers the years to 2000, divided into three periods: 1978–84, 1985–92, 1993–2000.
Ministers’ visit
Friends within easy reach of London attended a reception which the Society was very pleased to hold in September at the premises of Dalgety Ltd for two Malagasy Ministers: Dr Tiandraza R (Population) and Dr Seraphin (Health), accompanied by Madame Tiandraza, M Senn Harrison and Dr Rabaira. Lord Merrivale welcomed the visitors in English and French. Dr Tiandraza said that after a period when there had been some clouds over the relationship between the two countries since the closure of the two Embassies (for economic reasons), he was very glad to attend a reception which could mark the beginning of a new day. Before the party left Madagascar, it had been announced in the local press that during their journey overseas, which would include a visit to Rumania after Britain, they would be especially concerned with health services and medicines available for purchase.
Madagascar Rediscovered
The fourth meeting (still in the future at the time of writing) is to be held on 6th December in collaboration with the Publisher of Mr M Brown's Madagascar Rediscovered – a Publisher who is himself a member of the Society and its Committee. In her Drama of Madagascar, now 40 years old, Mrs Sonia Howe claimed that as a Russian by birth she could take a more impartial view of the story of conflicting interests in Madagascar than could the participants. Mervyn Brown is British by birth. But with an academic training in history, warmed by a great attachment to Madagascar and its people, he has written a vivid and well-articulated account, emphasising fairly, though not exclusively, some main British and American links, in addition to material on, for example, the ethnological puzzles of Malagasy origins. Though the academic grit can be examined microscopically by anyone so minded by looking up the books and articles referred to in the notes, in the text itself that grit has been compacted into a smooth-surfaced road, along which the reader moves easily from the distant past to the time when ‘Madagascar’s independence’ was proudly proclaimed to the world in 1960. In a foreword, M Deschamps, the doyen of historians of Madagascar, says: ‘The present work finds its place in the renaissance of international curiosity’; and links it with European culture by saying that the author ‘having fallen in love with this exotic Great Island... wished to make it better known: thus did Dante celebrate Beatrice and Michelet his beloved France’ (published at £7.95, UK price; or at £8.50 post free – cheque with order, please, to Damien Tunnacliffe, 4 Canonbury Mansions, Canonbury Place, London N1).
That book has many references. But anyone who has a thirst for even more knowledge of what has been published about Madagascar can satisfy it at a cost of £125. That is the price of the reprint of A & G Grandidier Bibliographie de Madagascar. The original four volumes totalled 1,910 pages and the last title is numbered 23,003. The period covered is up to 1955.
That book has many references. But anyone who has a thirst for even more knowledge of what has been published about Madagascar can satisfy it at a cost of £125. That is the price of the reprint of A & G Grandidier Bibliographie de Madagascar. The original four volumes totalled 1,910 pages and the last title is numbered 23,003. The period covered is up to 1955.
Books and articles
Much has happened since 1960 and people continue to write on the whole or on part of the period since that date. P M Allen contributes a lengthy chapter on Madagascar, the Authenticity of Recovery to the book The Politics of the Western Indian Ocean, edited by J B Ostheimer. The purpose of the book is ‘to pull together studies of internal political development in each of the islands’. B Chandon-Moët (author of Vohimasina Village Malgache) discussed ‘L’An III de la République Démocratique de Madagascar’ in Cahiers de l'Actualité Religieuse Sociale, 15 June 1978. A special illustrated 40-page inset on Madagascar, prepared by P Leymarie, who has taught at the University, was published in Afrique Asie, 6 February 1978. The present situation is dealt with (chiefly in articles by N Ashford) in the special Supplement to The Times of 26 June (Independence Day) 1978. One article is headed Stronger links with Britain sought. Others include the origins of the Malagasy and conservation. Madagascar Divination by N Pennick is published as No 8 of a series (chiefly concerned with Britain) entitled Megalithic Visions Antiquarian Papers.
Correct for size
Every other writer or speaker is likely to say that the island is like a left foot; and so it is on the familiar projection. The new Arno Peters world map, with some reference to the North/South dialogue, tries to present at least comparative areas correctly, so as to avoid what is held to be the misleading impression conveyed by the exaggerated extension of northern land masses on most modern maps. The well-known Madagascar ‘foot’, as though printed on elastic material and then stretched, has now become curiously long and narrow. If the maps are being checked for size, what about position? In November a French vulcanologist stated that Africa slid about a yard further from the Arabian Peninsula during a series of earthquakes early in the month. Did Madagascar follow the Continent? Or did it perhaps take an independent geological line and stand firm?
Giants in the land
The most famous Malagasy giant (other than in mythology) is the Aepyornis. Recently ‘Giant Madagascar Cockroaches’ have been reported as playing a part in scientific research in Britain and are also said to be on show at the London Zoo. But the proposal of a dealer in animals to sell them as children’s pets caused consternation among lay members of the public and among some scientists, who wrote to the press about their fears on account of the cockroaches’ breeding rate. The country, it seemed, might almost be taken over by these King Kongs of the insect world. (In fact, it is much more difficult to deal with the smaller kind of Malagasy cockroach, which can remain hidden in luggage, for example, for weeks at a time). However, in the end the dealer announced that after all his ‘pets’ had been decimated by the cold weather. Britain can breathe freely again. These cockroaches gave rise to what may have been the longest sustained correspondence in the British press on any single theme linked with Madagascar since the 1890s.
May 1978 disturbances
Out of all that has happened in the last few months, a few events may be mentioned as being significant in various ways. At the end of May certain teachers and students in Antananarivo protested at the manner in which some examinations had been held, claiming that the standards were being lowered. Though the circumstances remain somewhat obscure and there does not appear to be a parallel with May 1972, the incident provided an opportunity for some people to engage in violence, which led to the pillaging of shops, the burning of some buildings, including Police headquarters (and police transport), and the deaths of three people. Over 150 persons were arrested.
Parties and politics
Two major conferences of political parties have been held. The first, in Seychelles in April, represented a drawing together of parties in Seychelles, Madagascar, Comoro Islands, Mauritius and Reunion and discussed ‘solidarity and anti-imperialist struggle’, exploitation of the resources of the Indian Ocean and a basis for continuing consultation. The second was held in Antananarivo in May as the fifth in a series organised by ‘Progressive Parties and Organisations of Africa’. Extended reports of both meetings from official Malagasy sources are given in Renouveau No 7 (July 1978). A visit by President Ratsiraka to France in September was regarded as a beginning of the ‘normalisation’ of French and Malagasy relations, even though it is recognised that there are certain thorny questions still outstanding, such as the status of the former ‘dependencies of Madagascar’ during the colonial period (various small islands); and a clash also over Mayotte. A lengthy report with extracts from addresses by both Presidents appeared in Le Monde of 27 September 1978.
Exhibitions
In the last week of November an exhibition was held at the Ross Gallery in London of the works of George Baxter, in connection with the publication of George Baxter and the Baxter Prints (David and Charles, £10.50) by Max E Mitzman. The exhibits, showing Baxter’s extraordinarily skilful technique and use of oil inks for colour-printing, included Rafaralahy, the striking frontispiece in Ellis’s History of Madagascar (1838). An exhibition of African textiles, including some from Madagascar, is expected to be held at the Museum of Mankind, London, in 1979. An important book (pointing to a major part of the background to the official policy of ‘malgachiser’) will also appear in 1979: L Molet La Conception Malgache du Monde, du Surnaturel et de l’Homme, 832 pages in 2 volumes. Pre-publication price is 150fr (plus postage) from Librairie-Éditions l'Harmattan, 18 rue des Quatres Vents, 75006 Paris (up to 28 February 1979 only).
Unhappy landing
In 1977, two South Africans and one American were arrested after making an unauthorised landing at Mananjary in a small plane, though they claimed that technical difficulties forced them to do so while flying to Reunion. They were later condemned to five years in prison for ‘illegal entry’. As briefly reported in the British press, in August 1978 they tunnelled their way out of prison (probably with some help from others, according to the authorities) but were recaptured some days later east of Moramanga. In September there was an official warning against what the President (who was himself absent at the time on an extended visit to North Korea) later described as a failed Entebbe-style Commando raid organised from South Africa, and believed to involve perhaps some hundreds of persons.
Bishops to Lambeth
The Lambeth Conference was attended by the three bishops of the Malagasy Episcopal Church. Friends had a chance to meet them at a special ‘day’ organised by the Madagascar Mission Association at Northolt, where the Rector is Rev J Stewart, who worked for a time in the northwest.
Beans and tea
Malagasy beans can be bought in British shops (though in indicating their origin the plastic packaging continues to display the geographical solecism which seems to have started in the USA in the early 60s and which infiltrated a London paper’s crossword clue on 16 Nov). Perhaps in time it will be possible to buy Malagasy tea as well. Over the years there have been reports and projects for growing tea, but they have virtually come to nothing. However, what was started in 1971 in the Fianarantsoa region with help from the European Development Fund looks more promising. A crop of 78 tons in 1978 should rise to 200 by 1983. As it is usually the housewife who pours out the tea, it is perhaps appropriate that the Malagasy tea is being grown in Sahambavy, or Women’s Valley.
Iron for industry
It is said that this year 90,000 tons of iron ore have had to be imported. That seems a clear case of what in local terms is described as ‘suffering thirst when sitting in a canoe’ – how foolish not to reach out and take what you need. For surveys have pinpointed the main iron-ore deposits, of which the biggest is said to be 200 million tons at Soalala on the northwest coast, with a 41% extraction rate. The area is at present thinly populated but the Bay is a good place for a sail in an outrigger canoe, if care is taken not to allow the extremely powerful bore to carry the canoe onto the mangroves, escape from which is difficult and very tiring. If mining is started and a processing plant set up, it looks as though Soalala may provide another example of the way ‘new towns’ are being formed in Madagascar – in association with some new economic schemes ‘out in the country’, as already seen at Ambodiketsa (chrome, west of Lake Alaotra) and Fanalamanga (forestry, north of Moramanga). There may be another example in the southwest in connection with the Sakoa coalfield mentioned in a previous Letter as a project begun then abandoned, and ‘pending’ ever since. It now seems likely that the Polish Kopex Company will undertake the exploitation of the deposits. Again, though it is many years since Nickelville was abandoned, possible help from N Korea for the processing of nickel may see the formation of another new town somewhere, either with that or another name.