The Bara: People of Makay and Isalo

Les Hommes du Makay, by Détours Madagascar by Sylvain PHILIP on Vimeo https://vimeo.com/226556419 

Who are they in the mosaic of peoples that make up Madagascar?

The Bara in Brief

The Bara are semi-nomadic pastoralists of Bantu origin. The ethnic group was founded by Rabiby, who came from Africa with thousands of men. They settled on the southern plateaus of Madagascar. The Bara are dedicated to raising zebu cattle, a symbol of wealth, and often travel long distances with their herds.  

Zebu theft is a tradition among the Bara people and is still practiced today. It is considered a courageous feat, aimed at proving one's bravery and attracting young women for marriage. Young men also engage in hand-to-hand combat, known as *ringa*, and rodeos as training for combat.  

Like other peoples of Madagascar, the Bara revere their ancestors. Their tombs are located in caves, often in hard-to-access areas, with entrances marked by zebu skulls as a sign of respect. Bara ceremonies are accompanied by traditional music and dances. The most astonishing is the *Papango* dance, named after the king of birds, in which a man suspended on a pole mimics the flight of a bird.  

The Bara territory is currently bordered by the Mangoky River, the Midongy Sud forest, and the villages of Beroroha and Sakaraha.

The Bara in Makay and Isalo

When traveling through the Makay massif or the Isalo massif, you are in the territories of the Bara ethnic group. Excellent travel companions, they add a unique and special flavor to journeys. This collection of images and portraits highlights our teams, our tracker-guides, as well as anonymous individuals encountered during our wanderings through the Makay massif.