Cultural heritage of Madagascar

Traditional Festivals In March, Alahamady Be is the low key Malagasy New Year. The Donia, a traditional music festival, is held on Nosy Be during May-June. Fisemana is a ritual purification ceremony that the Antakàrana people celebrate in June.

Famadihana or the 'turning of the bones' burial ceremony takes place from June to September. In November-December the Gasytsara contemporary music festival is held in Tana.

Performing Arts
Most contemporary and traditional Malagasy music revolves around dance rhythms with influences from Indonesia and the African mainland, notably Kenya.

These rhythms are accompanied by the flute, whistle and valiha, a unique, 28-stringed instrument resembling a bassoon but played more like a harp. The lokanga voatavo, or cordophone, is also popular, as are a few types of guitar, including the kabosy, similar to an ukelele.

Vaky soava is a rhythmic style of singing accompanied only by hand clapping, and perhaps the most renowned exponent is Paul Bert Rahasimanana, who developed a personal style that included adding a musical accompaniment.