Madagascar revives traditional New Year Alahamady Be in cultural renaissance

Traditional Malagasy tatao dish served during the New Year

ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR – Madagascar has revived its traditional New Year celebration, Alahamady Be, marking a significant cultural resurgence after decades of dormancy. The pre-colonial festival, rooted in Malagasy royal traditions, returned with ancestral rituals, sacred fire ceremonies, and purification rites, drawing large crowds across the capital, Antananarivo. Celebrations peaked at Mahamasina Stadium, where thousands gathered for music, dance, and traditional performances, signalling renewed public interest in indigenous identity and heritage.

Organisers say the revival of Alahamady Be is part of a broader effort to restore Malagasy identity following years of cultural erosion. Mikolo Hasina Ankoay Andrianarisoa, chairperson of the organising committee, said the festival represents a symbolic awakening:

“Much of what defines Malagasy identity has been lost, destroyed, or has crumbled away… Today, we must wake up, regain our senses, and realise that there is blood flowing through our veins — and that blood is Malagasy.”

Cultural historians note that Alahamady Be was traditionally aligned with the Malagasy lunar calendar and closely linked to the Merina monarchy, before fading during colonial rule and modern state transitions.

A central highlight of the celebrations took place on March 19, featuring ritual food offerings and blessings. Attendees were served tatao, a traditional dish of rice cooked in milk and topped with honey, symbolising abundance and prosperity. The ceremony was followed by tsodrano, a sacred blessing ritual led by custodians of tradition. Organisers also emphasised the spiritual importance of Manjakamiadana, a historic royal site within the former palace complex of the Kingdom of Madagascar.

Davida Rakoto, one of the tradition’s guardians, said the ability to perform rituals freely at the site marked a historic moment:

“After so long, we were finally able to perform the rituals freely and in full on the sacred stone… It had not happened since the time of the kings.”

Events were held across major landmarks, including the University of Antananarivo and the historic Rova of Ambohidrabiby, reinforcing the link between heritage and national identity.

At Ambohidrabiby, believed to be the birthplace of the Merina kingdom, the ceremonial fire was lit before being symbolically carried across the city and beyond. Violette Randrianjatovo, a local education official, underscored the site’s significance:

“Celebrating the Malagasy New Year here is deeply sacred… the fire is lit here first, before being carried across the whole city – and even throughout Madagascar.”

The festivities will conclude with hiragasy, a traditional form of Malagasy musical theatre combining song, dance, and storytelling. The performances are widely regarded by scholars as a cornerstone of Malagasy oral tradition and cultural expression. Experts say the return of Alahamady Be reflects a growing movement across Africa to reclaim indigenous traditions and strengthen cultural identity in the face of globalisation.

Alahamady Be Madagascar