The Collected
Notes.
An evolving repository of our deep-dive explorations. From hidden architectural marvels to the profound nuances of global society.
Hiragasy: The Living Theatre of the Malagasy Highlands
In Madagascar's central highlands, a centuries-old performing art captivates audiences with its distinct blend of song, dance, speech, and theatrical narrative. Hiragasy is much more than just …
Famadihana: The Turning of the Bones and Celebration of Ancestors
Perhaps no ritual more reflects Madagascar's distinct worldview than Famadihana, the ceremonial activity of exhuming ancestors' corpses, wrapping them in new cloth, and dancing with them in joyful …
Traditional Malagasy Music: Valiha, Salegy, and the Sounds of the Island
Madagascar's musical traditions reflect the island's unusual cultural synthesis, merging Southeast Asian, African, Arab, Indian, and European influences to create soundscapes found nowhere else on …
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