Celebrating Fihavanana: The Roots of Giving Traditions and Practices in Madagascar

According to the Malagasy cultural tradition, respect is the building block of human existence without which life would be impossible, because “a human person is in essence a communal being” imbued with “a deep human concern for other persons and for the world” (Rakotondramiadanirina 2015). Respect goes hand in hand with inclusiveness and is expressed via various forms of hospitality such as a simple greeting, welcoming and receiving the stranger, and helping the disadvantaged people, etc. As one scholar says, “kindness constitutes the very being of a person as individual and communal” (Rahajarizafy 1970). It is not, however, merely an individual feeling; for it also implies concern for the common good and the well-being of others, and requires solidarity actions aimed at improving the economic status of each and every community member as well as the community as a whole. Mutuality is expressed through gifts and care, and is an integral part of Fihavanana which urges the Malagasy people to practice mutual care and support. No one should be excluded, both  in times of difficulty and misfortune, as well as in times of joy and celebration, as reflected the Malagasy proverb which translates into “Suffering together, rejoicing together,”.

A Malagasy ethical paradigm

Mutual aid and care are some concrete examples of how the Malagasy people practice Fihavanana across the different regions of the country. For instance, this can take the form of collective solutions to labor and resources among farmers - who represent 80% of the population - expressed in proverbs translated as “you can’t dig ground under water unless you do it together”, or the traditional terms “tana-maro” and “valin-tanana” (mutual work). Fihavanana is also reflected in important processes of community building through the different rites of transition (especially those related to birth, circumcision, marriage, and death) during which everyone must be present and contribute in various ways (food, money, skills in music or dance) to the ceremony. The traditional values of solidarity and caring for others that is underpinned by Fihavanana were also largely enacted through community actions aimed at watching over the most vulnerable ones during the COVID 19 crisis.

A home-grown social safety net

As an ethical paradigm, Fihavanana is incompatible with any situation whereby “some people are suffering from injustice or poverty while others are enjoying abundance, or when some are dominated and exploited by others” (Ibid). Therefore, as the Malagasy proverb translates: “better lose a little money than a little friendship.” The value and role of Fihavanana is also being recognized outside of Malagasy scholarship. According to a Hume (2023) “ the Malagasy care for others in the community and, in turn, find that they are able to care for themselves. In Madagascar… If you were to show up at someone’s house hungry, they would give you food and let you in… The culture is more socio-centric than ego-centric… It’s more about the group than the individual… They don’t necessarily think of them caring for themselves, but care from the community that results in care for themselves” (Hamren 2018).

Fihavanana serves as a very effective social safety net, as evidenced in the networks of solidarity and reciprocity based on Fihavanana (via kinship, communal, religious or political affiliations). This is crucial for survival in the poor communities of Madagascar that are confronted with the intersecting food, climate, and economic crises.

Contributor: Zo Randriamaro