The idea is undoubtedly good. Better yet, it has been formalized by a decree: Friday will be dedicated to traditional attire for state agents. It is a major step toward reclaiming national identity, but while necessary, it is not sufficient. One would have preferred it to be a simple request rather than a decree implying obligation and coercion, reminiscent of communist regimes.
A sense of belonging to a nation and patriotism should be natural, spontaneous, and voluntary. At the Moroccan Throne Day celebration, the Moroccan ambassador wore his traditional attire, as did other African guests, without the slightest complex. This is also the case at international summits, where representatives speak in their mother tongues—Vladimir Putin speaks Russian, Xi Jinping speaks Mandarin, to name just the giants.
When the government, leaders, and the population are in symbiosis, these things flow naturally. When the state meets the aspirations of the population, fulfills its duties, and guarantees security, patriotic gestures toward the symbols of the Republic—such as the flag, the national anthem, respect for public property, and civic duty—become habits and rituals.
Moreover, many parameters come into play regarding national identity. Reducing it to wearing a specific outfit minimizes culture as a whole. A country is defined by its attire, culture, language, traditions, customs, history, memory, cuisine, and commercial practices. If all the therapies recommended by donors have failed, it is precisely because these elements were ignored.
Furthermore, much like the official Malagasy language, which remains to be clearly defined for all official and administrative correspondence, we do not have a single, official traditional outfit. Countries like China, Japan, Scotland, and Senegal have distinct, unified traditional garments that reflect their history and art. In Madagascar, we have a multitude of outfits depending on regions, ethnicities, and affiliations. Perhaps choosing a single model for everyone is necessary, which would also provide an opportunity for local sewing workshops to produce at least 500,000 units for civil servants alone.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-03 06:24:22 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/etre-ou-paraitre.html