ANTAKARANA of MADAGASCAR

Population: Approx 100,000
Location: Northern tip of Madagascar

Most of the Anatakarana live in the main town of Diego-Suarez at the northern tip of Madagascar.

The Antakarana people are of Arab descent, some being obviously Muslims with others actually attending church (Roman Catholic). However, they are firm believers in Ancestral spirits.

Prostitution is the number one occupation and a significant portin of the populaton lives on its proceeds bringing with it the related diseases and broken spirits

The area is very fertile with cocoa, sugar, peanuts, vanilla and coffee grown.

Health care, diet and shelter are rated as fair but education and water supply are poor. There is little electricity, radio or telephone.

The diet consists of rice and maize with some fish and meat, bananas and coconuts.

Dance and music are the art forms and it may be that music can be used as a medium for reaching the Antakarana though education would most likely be the major medium.

They are considered as resistant to the Gospel due to the many taboos and spirits which control all aspects of their lives.