Sihanaka in Madagascar

The Sihanaka have only been reported in Madagascar
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Sihanaka are known as the people of the swamps. Most live in the marshlands around Lake Alaotria, located in central northeastern Madagascar. European visitors in 1667 reported the Sihanaka had fortified villages which they effectively used to defend themselves. Living close to the main trade route between the capital of the neighboring Merina people and the port of Tbamasina allowed the Sihanaka to become wealthy traders in slaves and other goods during most of the 17th century.
At the turn of the 19th century, they came under the control of the Boina Kingdom. The was followed later when the Madagascar Merina people conquered them. When the Merina King Radama 1 allowed Christians into the country, there were several attempted to reach the Sihanaka. In 1897 the French conquered and colonized the island. The Sihanaka suffered in 1910 when the French forced them to build a railroad linking the coastal port of Toamasina to the capital city. This was known as corvee (statue labor) and the Sihanaka receive almost no pay as they were told the labor was a requirement, like paying taxes.
In 1960 the French surrendered its hold on Madagascar. With the new independence the Sihanaka began to practice intensive agriculture especially growing rice and vanilla. In order to do this, they have had to drain large parts of the swamp. This has allowed them to regain their honor and wealth.


What Are Their Lives Like?

With the use of heavy machines, the Sihaaka work hard to gain more land for farming. This has brought considerable criticism from people who were concerned about the natural habitats that are unique to the area especially the Lac Alaotra bamboo lemur. Being efficient hunters, they supplement their diet, which contains large amounts of rice, with wild game such as boars, lemurs, snakes, owls and an occasional crocodile. Tobacco, marijuana and pork are basically forbidden. They believe that if pigs were transported across Lake Alaotra to their villages bad storms would follow. Their traditional dress consisted of clothing woven of raffia fibers.
Parents were and are traditionally responsible for educating their own children especially when it comes to the social and cultural norms and practices. Those who can afford it will send their children to schools for formal education. Building their houses is achieved through the work of both men and women. The men construct the frame of the house, roof, windows and doors. Women weave the zozoro reed to make mats that cover the walls, flooring and roofs. One particular taboo that is practiced by all Sihanaka is not working in a paddy field on Tuesdays.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They are known and united by their traditional religious beliefs. Like other Madagascar people groups they acknowledge a creator god (Zanahary), their ancestors, and strong taboos (fady). By the 1600s the Sihanaka adopted 11 gods into their belief system. These god idols were given sacrifices and the people maintained specific prayers to them for various needs and protections in their lives.
Aspects of ancestor worship among the Sihanaka include joro (collective prayers said to invoke the blessings of God or the ancestors), burial in family tombs, reburial ceremonies of their dead and the sanctification of particular stones, land and shrines. Each family has their own elaborate burial space or house outside the village which is usually made of stone. They honor their dead as they believe the dead has a particular spirit that can at will possess them and placed them into a trance. If this ancestor spirit is angry this could cause them to suffer. If they want answers to problems the spirit will give them advise while in the trance. Communities look to ombiasy (wise men) for spiritual guidance, to commune with the ancestors, and to determine which days are auspicious for undertaking particular tasks or endeavors. When the Sihanaka were reached by missionaries in the mid to late 1800s (mainly French Catholics) a number became Christian believers. Often, they mixed their traditional spiritual beliefs with Christianity. Today, traditional beliefs remain strong among the Sihanaka, although a growing number practice orthodox Christianity. Some maintain a form of spiritual worship which blends their traditional beliefs with Christianity.


What Are Their Needs?

The Sihanaka need to be reached by committed evangelicals so they will know the power of the Lord’s grace, love and commandments for living. They need the routine of Church, Bible study, prayer and the tools for discipleship that will be the most effective in reaching their people.


Prayer Points

Pray for trained Christian workers to commit themselves with God-defined goals to reach the Sihanaka.
Pray for well-developed Bible training schools for Christian Sihanakas.
Pray that all tools including radio broadcasts, JESUS Films, youth programs and community outreaches will unite these people for God’s kingdom.


Scripture Prayers for the Sihanaka in Madagascar.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Sihanaka
People Name in Country Sihanaka
Alternate Names
Population this Country 772,000
Population all Countries 772,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 14169
ROP3 Code 108994
Country Madagascar
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Central area.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Madagascar
Region Africa, East and Southern
Continent Africa
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Central area..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Sihanaka in Madagascar
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 1.94 %)
30.00 %
Ethnic Religions
62.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
8.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Malagasy, Merina (772,000 speakers)
Language Code plt   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Sihanaka
Dialect Code 13396   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Malagasy, Merina (772,000 speakers)
Language Code plt   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Sihanaka
Dialect Code 13396   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Malagasy, Merina

Primary Language:  Malagasy, Merina

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1828-1987)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1830-1990)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1835-2011)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Malagasy, Plateau Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Walking with Jesus video Jesus Film Project
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Malagasy, Merina YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Malagasy, Merina YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Malagasy, Merina Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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