FLAG OF MADAGASCAR: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The flag of Madagascar is the national symbol of this African island republic. It is made up of three colors, divided into three stripes. The first one is a vertical target located at the extreme left. The rest of the flag is divided into two horizontal stripes. The upper one is red and the lower one green. This has been the only flag of Madagascar since its independence in 1960.

The existence of flags in Madagascar came late. At first, the island was divided between coastal and inland clans, but the migrations attracted other groups, before which an ethnic plurality was formed that ended up in the division of more than a dozen kingdoms. The Merino kingdom is known to have used a red and white flag.

Flag of Madagascar. (SKopp).

The rest of the history of the Madagascar flag passed through French rule: first as a protectorate and later as a colony. In 1958, Madagascar achieved autonomy and since then the country's flag was born.

This has remained unchanged since independence in 1960. Red and white identify with the old monarchy, while green identifies with nature and the Hova groups.

History of the flag

Despite its proximity to the African continent, the origin of the Malagasy people is Austronesian. This has been proven through DNA studies and can be demonstrated in the Malagasy language and its composition.

The timing of human settlement in Madagascar is still controversial, as it was believed to have occurred more recently, although new findings may link it to 10,500 years ago.

However, the history of Madagascar, as well as that of the Indian Ocean during the first millennium of this era, is little known. The population was historically divided between the Vazimba in the interior forests and the Vezos on the coast.

The migration of other peoples changed the reality of Madagascar and brought the flags with it. Attracted by the slave trade, different groups of Malay-Javanese, Persians and Omani Arabs arrived on the island.

Later, European groups such as the Portuguese and French were incorporated, who founded some small first colonies. To this ethnic mix were added the Bantu, East African groups.

-Creation of kingdoms

As migration rebuilt power and affected the two main ethnic groups that inhabited Madagascar, there was a recomposition of the geographic reality of the island. In this way, from the 16th century it is considered that the feudal period began.

This led to the formation of different kingdoms, such as the Tandroy and Mahafaly in the south, Anteaka, Antemoro, Antanala, Antambahoaka and Betsimisaraka on the east coast, Antakarana, Menabe, Vezo and Boina on the west coast, as well as the descendants of the vazimba to the interior like the Merina, Bezanozano, Betsileo, Bara, Hihanaka and Tsimihety.

Despite this massive territorial division, a relatively common language, as well as ancestral customs and traditions, continued to be maintained. Even though several of the groups that migrated to Madagascar knew the flags, they were not immediately applied in the kingdoms formed.

-Kingdom of Merina and Kingdom of Madagascar

The central kingdoms of the interior, with the passing of the centuries, acquired more importance on the island. Of these, Merina, to the north and Betsileo, to the south, were the most prominent. However, their power was definitive when at the beginning of the 19th century they were unified after the action of the monarch Andrianampoinimerina.

This led to the new great state of central Madagascar extending its dominance to most of the island, supported by powers such as the British Empire. As of 1817, the central kingdoms, including also Bezanozano and Sihanaka, were constituted in the Kingdom of Madagascar.

From that moment on, the European influence became very important, as it was even seen in the alphabet. Malagasy began to be written in the Latin alphabet, thus replacing aliphate. France was the one that exerted the most pressure towards the end of the 19th century. The European nation managed to sign a treaty of alliance with the Malagasy queen Ranavalona III in 1885.

Flags of the Merino people and the Kingdom of Madagascar

The Merina Kingdom was one of the first to maintain distinctive colors that were carried on a flag. In the first place, although the dates are not defined historically, the Merino people used white and red pavilions. It is considered that they could have been arranged in two horizontal stripes: the upper one white and the lower one red.

There is consensus that, at some point, after the unification in the Kingdom of Madagascar, the flag changed. Although they kept the colors red and white, the flag had a white background and only a red box in the lower right corner. On its border, the initials RM were added in red, separated by a symbol of the country.

It is also considered that the Merino people may have had a different flag at another time. Again, keeping the colors red and white, these could have been arranged with a large white triangle and red edges. On the left, a symbol with the traditional Merino dwelling in red could be incorporated within a brown circle.

Flag of the Merino people. (Thommy).

-French Protectorate of Madagascar

The alliance treaty between France and Madagascar was highly controversial. This officially consolidated the French Protectorate of Madagascar, which remained in force between 1882 and 1897. New French dependencies that already existed previously were added to this, such as Diego Suarez, Nosy-Be and Sainte-Marie Island.

During this protectorate stage, Madagascar used the French tricolor for the first time. However, this did not maintain the same design as in France, but the stripes were arranged horizontally. On the left side of the central strip, the white one, a thin red crescent, symbol of Islam, was added.

-French colony of Madagascar and its dependencies

The constant disagreements of the alliance treaty between Madagascar and France gave rise to the French invasion of 1895. In this way, the French occupation of the island began and the end of the protectorate began to take shape to make the colonization official. Although at first an attempt was made to maintain the protectorate, this did not last.

The Madagascar colony and its dependencies were officially created in 1897. General Gallieni was the envoy for the pacification of the territory. This process was extremely bloody, as it ended with the disappearance of more than 100,000 people and the establishment of the indigénat, which condemned many inhabitants of the territory to be considered second-class citizens.

During the colony, it led to the opening of scientific institutes and the construction of road, industrial, agricultural and railway infrastructure. The Malagasy had a special role in supporting France in the First World War. Throughout this period, the flag that was hoisted in Madagascar was the French tricolor.

Flag of France. (Par Deutsch: Diese Grafik wurde von SKopp erstellt.English: This graphic was drawn by SKopp.Español: This file was made by user SKopp.Suomi: Tämän grafiikan on piirtänyt SKopp.Filipino: Ginuhit ni SKopp ang grapikong ito.Portugu: Porto This graphic was unpacked using SKopp.Slovenčina: Tento obrázok bol vytvorený redaktorom SKopp.Tagalog: Ginuhit ni SKopp ang grapikong ito., Via Wikimedia Commons).

Additionally, there was a distinctive shield of the colony. Specifically, it was used by the governor general. It consisted of a maroon-colored circle with the overlapping initials GGDM, for Governor General of Madagascar.

Seal of the Governor General of Madagascar. (Samhanin).

-Second World War

Madagascar, being a French colony, was the subject of dispute during World War II. In principle, her government became faithful to Vichy France, the puppet state of Nazi Germany. Therefore, in 1942 the island was invaded by British troops, who wanted to avoid a possible Japanese reach.

It was not until January 1943 that power was handed over to a Free French general, led by Charles de Gaulle. The island was also the protagonist of a desperate theoretical plan by Nazi Germany, since all European Jews would be sent to it.

Flag of Free France. (1940-1944). (by Zscout370).

-Republic of Madagascar

The situation in all the French colonies after World War II began to change, and Madagascar was no exception. Since 1946 there has been a fight against the government for independence from the Democratic Movement for Malagasy Renewal (MDRM). In 1946, Madagascar obtained the status of a French overseas territory.

The outlook became more tense in 1947, after the Malagasy Insurrection broke out. This had a response from the French armed forces, which caused tens of thousands of deaths, which could even approach 90 thousand victims.

However, it was not until 1958 when Madagascar achieved its autonomy within the French state. In this way, it became the Malagasy Autonomous Republic as part of the French Community. Finally, Madagascar gains its independence on June 26, 1960.

Creation of the flag of Madagascar

Since the creation of the Autonomous Republic of Malagasy within the French Community in 1958, Madagascar has had a flag. Its official presentation was made on October 21, 1958, a week before the creation of the republic.

The composition of this flag has its origin in the Malagasy kingdoms, since red, a color of Indonesian origin, was the mark of the great kingdoms of the country. Specifically, the Merina Kingdom used red and white flags.

The great novelty was the incorporation of a green stripe, as well as the layout of the flag, with a vertical stripe and two horizontal stripes. The symbol has remained in force without modification, despite political changes.

Meaning of the flag

Like the vast majority of flags that were created in the 20th century, the flag of Madagascar has a great meaning attributed to its colors. Without a doubt, the one with the most representation is red.

Historically it has been the color of the ancient Malagasy kingdoms, and especially, of the Merina Kingdom. Also in this aspect is the white color, which was present in the same way in the monarchical flags.

There are also other interpretations of red and white, which can be attributed to the ethnic origin of the Malagasy people. Individually, red is related to the sovereignty and strength of the state, as well as the spilled blood and mud that covered the walls of traditional houses.

On the other hand, the white would represent the loyalty of the Malagasy and purity, but also the rice collected in the lands.

Green strip: a novelty in symbology

The green stripe, a great novelty in the symbology of Madagascar, is widely represented. Although this color had never been represented among Malagasy symbols, over time it has acquired relevance.

In the first place, it can be related to the Hova peoples of the coast, who played an important role even in independence. However, it is also related to agriculture, forests and nature, as well as the travelers' tree, a symbol of the union between man and the environment.

References

1. De Flacourt, E. (2007). Histoire of the great isle Madagascar. KARTHALA Editions. Recovered from books.google.com.
2. Echo Web. (July 29, 2018). Drapeau of Madagascar: origine, specificities et significations. Echo Web. Recovered from echo-web.fr.
3. Le Frontal. (sf). Drapeau of Madagascar: Histoire et signification. Le Frontal. Recovered from lefrontal.com.
4. Smith, W. (2013). Flag of Madagascar. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Recovered from britannica.com.
5. Vazaha vaovao. (June 26, 2014). Vert, Blanc, Rouge. Vazaha vaovao. Deux français à Madagascar. Recovered from vazahasvovo.wordpress.com.