The Zafimaniry community of Madagascar’s central highlands faces a critical juncture as deforestation and globalisation reshape their traditional forest-based way of life, threatening a cultural heritage recognised by UNESCO.
Numbering fewer than 15,000, the Zafimaniry inhabit the “land of mist” on the southern edge of Madagascar’s central highlands. Decades of heavy deforestation have stripped many surrounding hills of woodland, undermining the ecosystem that historically defined their society. Their tradition of intricate wooden house construction and woodcraft was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.
“We are a people of the forest. We live from the forest,” said Johnny Andriamahefarivo, the only magistrate from the Zafimaniry community and a former justice minister. He explained that carved wooden elements—doors, shutters, windows, chairs—each carry specific spiritual and communal meanings. The loss of nearby forests now forces adaptation. “Even though we stayed deep in the bush, today that bush has been cleared… We have to leave and try other ways of making a living,” he noted.
Forest engineer and photographer TangalaMamy, who has documented the community for over a decade, observes rapid technological and practical change. “Thirteen years ago, there was no mobile network… Now everyone has a smartphone, everyone has a satellite dish,” he said. The scarcity of wood is altering housing; permanent wooden huts are no longer feasible when sourcing timber requires travelling kilometres. “They are not going to live permanently in wooden huts when wood now requires travelling kilometres to find,” TangalaMamy added.
Despite these shifts, certain customs persist. “Even in brick houses today, the ancestors’ corner is still there,” TangalaMamy said, noting continued offerings and traditional naming rituals. Distinctive practices like a complex system of hair braiding—17 identified types, each conveying specific messages—also endure.
The sustainability of this heritage is now in question. Some traditions are already fading, raising concerns about intergenerational transmission. Malagasy writer and columnist Vanf has called on the national culture ministry to support preservation. “We must safeguard part of this identity that is disappearing without us being able to pass its memory on to our children,” he said, proposing the creation of a dedicated space—potentially with a “marketing” dimension—where traditional houses could be restored and displayed for both Malagasy and international visitors.
The Zafimaniry experience highlights the broader challenge of maintaining intangible cultural heritage amid environmental degradation and global integration. Their adaptive strategies and enduring rituals offer a case study in cultural resilience, while preservation advocates stress the urgency of formal support to ensure their unique traditions are not lost.
