IMAGE shows some very happy Malagasy children near Beforona, Madagascar juxtaposed against lowland rice fields, slash-and-burn agriculture, and a non-native tree line. © Image by Buck Denton
The Malagasy government is trying to change social policy or taboo, which discriminates against twins. In Madagascar, twins are considered fady or taboo, and families are sometimes forced to separate twins or give them up altogether. From Reuters South Africa:
A victim of superstition on her Indian Ocean island home, 29-year-old Zaely never knew her twin sister, who was raised by somebody else.
They were born in southeast Madagascar’s Mananjary district, where locals believe twins bring bad luck. Unlucky parents are forced to give them up, or be ostracised by their neighbours.
“I have looked for her, but with no result,” said Zaely, who makes a living selling handicrafts.
Local taboos, or fady, are a major part of daily life on the giant island nation off Africa’s east coast, which has long fascinated anthropologists with its unique mix of cultures.
. . .
“I had to abandon my twins 10 years ago,” said Voahirana Ruphine, a 40-year-old teacher. “I have not seen them since.”
Since 1987, two Mananjary orphanages have received 236 abandoned twins, officials say.
But Madagascar may now be cracking down.
First comes a four-year scheme to raise awareness and try to break support for the taboo, including discussions with local leaders, parents and children, combined with media campaigns.
. . .
“A law is being prepared to reinforce the protection of twins,” Laurette Randrianantenaina, director of judicial reform at Madagascar’s justice ministry, told Reuters.
She said the new legislation was likely to give more powers to police and judges to intervene on behalf of parents and children under pressure from the local communities.
The island of Madagascar is known for its biodiversity, diverse landscapes, and diverse cultures. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Madagascar, I recommend Madagascar to anyone seeking an extra special exotic vacation. The people are welcoming and nature is generally benign. However, make sure your medications, vaccinations, and knowledge of tropical diseases are sufficient for travel to Madagascar.
Hello
I am a mom of twins from NYC. How can I help the twins of Madagasar? Is there an organization or the name of a leader you can recommend? I would like to try to create awareness among the twins of the USA.
Thank you.
Alicia: I couldn’t find an organization that’s tackling this issue directly, but surely there are organizations that are tackling this issue through educational programs. If you find something, then please post it. I did find this video with some information however:
Alicia,
I have been working in fighting poverty (we call it “development”) for 26 years, and two years ago became the father of identical twin boys. Has been an enormous blessing, not, as is seen in Madagascar, a curse.
Have thought and discussed with some others the idea of creating a program to address this and other problems encountered by multiples and their families. Tentative name: “Multiple Blessings.” Currently not able to pursue this, due to time constraints, but would love to invite you to join in when we’re ready. Interested? If so, we can exchange email addresses and I’ll contact you when the time is right.
Dave, a Shabadeux (Father of Twins – a title of great respect, even awe, in eastern Congo)
I am originally from Madagascar. There are 17 different tribes on the island and we do speak one same language (not a dialect). Each tribe has different customs as to rites of marriage, death and etc.. Maybe in Mananjary twins are seen as bad luck but in Antananarivo, they are seen as good luck. And the tribes treat twins in 17 different ways or less. There was a time if children were separated from their siblings for any reason (loss of parents, twin or other), they are always adopted by other family members. That has changed since the military under Ratsiraka took over in 1973. They used the money to buy MIGs flown by North Korean pilots, they took care of the military and nobody else. The populace became very poor and a lot of traditions were lost. They opened orphanages because the families could not afford an extra mouth to feed.
Children are always considered by Malagasy as a gift from God i.e. men and women are equal because they contribute equally to have children. Poverty brought abuses by the government and some families to children. Before the military, no children ever begged in a street. Now you see them in the street begging. Not as bad as India or other places but there are since children beggars in Madagascar. Ravalomanana, president from 2002 to 2009 seemed to have turned the tide but was forced to resign and flee to Swaziland. The country has gotten worse and when that happens, it is usually the children who suffer the most.
There are some european charities working for the health and well being of the Malagasy Children which most africans believe cannot be separated from the welfare of their families.