Africa Is a Country

The music of Madagascar’s young people

Africa Is a Country Podcast
African Five-a-Side Podcast

The music of Madagascar’s young people

By
Tom Devriendt

Celebrate a country's independence day by featuring some of the music of its young people. This is Madagascar's turn today, June 26th.

People leaving Antananarivo, Madagascar during the COVID-19 pandemic. Image credit Henitsoa Rafalia for the World Bank via Flickr CC.

Today is the 51st anniversary of Malagasi independence. Things could have been better for its citizens. What with being governed by a former radio DJ along with the country’s army and in the background threats that Western governments and aid agencies will withdraw financial support. Anyway, we’re celebrating. For the sake of the Malagasy people. This is also the start of a new regular gig where we’ll celebrate a country’s independence day by featuring some of the music of its young people.

We had a harder time coming up with the short list below (we had an easy time with South Africa’s Youth Day (June 16th) and Mozambique Independence Day, but we found plenty of great stuff available. So here we go. (If we missed anything, let us know.)

Oladad’s “Ketamanga.”

“Tsy fatar’elah” by K.F.R. featuring KIM:

Aora’s “In mo ze zay.”

“Zaza dago” by Suprem.

Volkany Sound’s “Aminay any.”

Finally, Raboussa’s  “Tonga ‘ndray.”

Further Reading

Rebuilding Algeria’s oceans

Grassroots activists and marine scientists in Algeria are building artificial reefs to restore biodiversity and sustain fishing communities, but scaling up requires more than passion—it needs institutional support and political will.

Ibaaku’s space race

Through Afro-futurist soundscapes blending tradition and innovation, Ibaaku’s new album, ‘Joola Jazz,’ reshapes Dakar’s cultural rhythm and challenges the legacy of Négritude.

An allegiance to abusers

This weekend, Chris Brown will perform two sold-out concerts in South Africa. His relationship to the country reveals the twisted dynamic between a black American artist with a track record of violence and a country happy to receive him.

Shell’s exit scam

Shell’s so-called divestment from Nigeria’s Niger Delta is a calculated move to evade accountability, leaving behind both environmental and economic devastation.

Africa’s sibling rivalry

Nigeria and South Africa have a fraught relationship marked by xenophobia, economic competition, and cultural exchange. The Nigerian Scam are joined by Khanya Mtshali to discuss the dynamics shaping these tensions on the AIAC podcast.

The price of power

Ghana’s election has brought another handover between the country’s two main parties. Yet behind the scenes lies a flawed system where wealth can buy political office.

Beats of defiance

From the streets of Khartoum to exile abroad, Sudanese hip-hop artists have turned music into a powerful tool for protest, resilience, and the preservation of collective memory.