From September 14 to 18, Morondava will host the national celebration of Taombaovao Lohataona, themed around identity, fihavanana (social harmony), and national unity.
For five days, Morondava will become a true meeting point for Malagasy cultures and traditions. Tangalamena Zakariasy Patrick, president of the Taombaovao Lohataona 2026 organizing committee, officially announced that the national celebration will take place in Morondava, in the Menabe region.
The festivities will run from September 14 to 18. The first day will feature a grand parade, or cultural carnival, bringing together various ethnic groups, with an arrival scheduled on the beach. It will also be marked by a traditional ceremony and a cultural gathering.
The program includes a day dedicated to the traditions and ancestral practices of Madagascar’s various ethnic groups, centered around the ‘nofonkena mitam-pihavanana’ (sharing of meat to seal friendship), followed by several conferences bringing together teachers, academics, and representatives of different communities. A meeting between parents and traditional authorities is also planned.
A visit to Mahabo, located about 45 kilometers away, is also on the agenda, with the participation of various kings accompanied by their delegations. A ritual to request blessings at the mouth of the Morondava River, particularly for the improvement of fishing, is also announced, before the installation of a stele and an official ceremony organized by traditional authorities.
For the organizers, Taombaovao Lohataona goes beyond a simple cultural event. ‘Lohataona is above all a celebration of who we are, our history, and our common values,’ explains Tangalamena Patrick Zakariasy. The event aims to bring Malagasy people together around fihavanana, solidarity, and national unity, while promoting the transmission of heritage to future generations.
The choice of Morondava is not accidental. The capital of the Menabe region possesses significant historical, cultural, and ancestral heritage and maintains an important place in community life and the preservation of Madagascar’s various traditional practices.
The 2026 edition intends to highlight the cultural and ancestral riches of Menabe while bringing together representatives from different regions of the country. ‘We want to make Morondava a major cultural hub and highlight the riches of Menabe while uniting the different regions,’ emphasizes the president of the organizing committee.
Finally, the committee insists on the national character of the initiative. ‘This initiative should not be confused with political affiliation or religious belief. It is a national movement intended to strengthen the unity and fihavanana of the Malagasy people,’ affirms Tangalamena Patrick Zakariasy.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-05 05:54:13 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/traditions-morondava-hotesse-du.html