Menabe

Menabe
Region
Location in Madagascar
Country	Madagascar
Capital	Morondava
Government
• Chief of the region	Romain Gilbert
Area
• Total	46,121 km2(17,807 sq mi)
Population (2018)
• Total	700,577
• Density	15/km2(39/sq mi)
• Ethnicities	Sakalava
Time zone	UTC3(EAT)
HDI(2018)	0.450 low·17th of 22

Menabeis aregionin westernMadagascar,with its capital atMorondava.It covers an area of 46,121 square kilometres (17,807 square miles), and its population was 700,577 in 2018.The population mostly belongs to theSakalavaethnic group. The region is named after the 18th-century SakalavaKingdom of Menabe(16th–18th centuries). The name "Menabe", in turn, means "big red", after the color oflateriterock that dominates the landscape.

History

Menabe is the southern part of the Sakalava territory. Tradition holds that it was founded byAdriamandazoala(reigned c1540 – 1560). Its territory was increased under the legendaryAndriandahifotsy(c1610 – 1685). It thus became the strongest kingdom inMadagascaruntil the mid-18th century. Among its most famous rulers wasRanaimoor Andriandrainarivo (ruled 1718–1727) who is known through the memoirs of Europeans such asRobert Drury,James Cook,the crew of the Dutch East IndiamanBarneveld,1719,François Valentijn(1726). Though handsome and imposing he was a paralytic.

Radama Iwould conduct three ravaging campaigns in the kingdom of Menabe in 1820, in 1821 and finally in 1822. Finally, Ramitraho king of Menabe at the time, sued for peace by giving his daughter Rasalimo to Radama as his wife. But peace would not follow until Rasalimo offered another peace treaty in 1827. Unfortunately Radama died before negotiations could finish.

Eventually the Merina conquered and subjugated the southern Menabe territories in 1834 right afterRamitraho's death. Constant war would ensue culminating with a Merina victory in 1846. QueenRanavalona Ithen garrisoned major Menabe towns and sent farmers to colonize the area. Menabe rulers were allowed to keep their authority but under the local Merina governor. The northern Menabe largely escaped Merina authority and stayed independent despite the fact that they no longer posed any threat to the monarchy inAntananarivo.

During theFrench invasion of Madagascarthe Menabe kings united their forces. On August 14, 1897 and August 30, 1897 the 100 Menabe chiefs with 10,000 warriors armed withriflesmet the French troops inAnosimenaandAmbiky.King Itoera was killed along with both his generals and many of his nobles. But the Menabe was not pacified until the year 1900.

Menabe was then incorporated into the province ofToliaraunder theFrench colonizationwhich ended in 1960. In 2004 it became a Region.

Geography

The Menabe region is situated between theMangokyandManambolo Rivers.

Rivers

• Mangoky
• Manambolo River
• Morondava River
• Tsiribihina River
• Sakeny River
• Mahajilo River

Tourism

TheAvenue of the Baobabsis one of the most visited locations in the region.

Transport

It is connected with the inland by theRoute nationale No.35toIvato,Route nationale No.34toAntsirabeand is crossed by theRoute nationale No.8toBekopaka.

Airports

• Ankavandra Airport
• Belo/Tsiribihina Airport
• Malaimbandy Airport
• Mandabe Airport
• Manja Airport
• Miandrivazo Airport
• Morondava Airport

Protected Areas

• Part ofMangoky Ihotry Wetland Complex
• AmbondrobeNew Protected Area
• Avenue of the BaobabsNew Protected Area
• Menabe AntimenaNew Protected Area
• Part of theAmbohijanahary Reserve
• Kirindy Mitea National Park
• Andranomena Reserve

are situated in this region.

Administrative divisions

Menabe Region is divided into five districts, which are sub-divided into 51 communes:

• Belo sur Tsiribihina District– 14 communes
• Mahabo District– 11 communes
• Manja District– 6 communes
• Miandrivazo District– 15 communes
• Morondava District– 5 communes

External links

• Among the Menabe; or, Thirteen Months on the West Coast of Madagascar.By George Herbert Smith, S.P.G. Missionary (1896)
• Menabe flag and key dates
• Menabe tourism office