Zafimaniry
Encyclopedia
The Zafimaniry are a sub-group of the Betsileo ethnic group of Madagascar
inhabiting the forested mountains of the southern central highlands. The Zafimaniry speak a dialect of the Malagasy language
, which is a branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language group
derived from the Barito languages
, spoken in southern Borneo
.
They are famed for their woodcarving knowledge and art, which was added in 2003 to UNESCO
's list of the world's Intangible Cultural Heritage. This style of woodworking was once common throughout Madagascar
but has declined due to deforestation.
File:Ifasina - Zafimaniry Betsileo village in Madagascar.jpg|Zafimaniry village
File:Zafimaniry house.JPG|Traditional Zafimaniry wooden house
File:Zafimaniry woman.jpg|Zafimaniry woman drying rice
Ethnic groups of Madagascar
The number of ethnic groups of Madagascar has long been a point of contention and debate. The island of Madagascar is predominantly populated by people broadly classified as belonging to the broader Malagasy ethnic identity...
inhabiting the forested mountains of the southern central highlands. The Zafimaniry speak a dialect of the Malagasy language
Malagasy language
Malagasy is the national language of Madagascar, a member of the Austronesian family of languages. Most people in Madagascar speak it as a first language as do some people of Malagasy descent elsewhere.-History:...
, which is a branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language group
Malayo-Polynesian languages
The Malayo-Polynesian languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages, with approximately 385.5 million speakers. These are widely dispersed throughout the island nations of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean, with a smaller number in continental Asia...
derived from the Barito languages
Barito languages
The Barito languages are a score of Dayak languages of Borneo, and most famously Malagasy, the national language of Madagascar. They are named after the Barito River....
, spoken in southern Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
.
They are famed for their woodcarving knowledge and art, which was added in 2003 to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
's list of the world's Intangible Cultural Heritage. This style of woodworking was once common throughout Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
but has declined due to deforestation.
File:Ifasina - Zafimaniry Betsileo village in Madagascar.jpg|Zafimaniry village
File:Zafimaniry house.JPG|Traditional Zafimaniry wooden house
File:Zafimaniry woman.jpg|Zafimaniry woman drying rice