Following the suicide of young Narovana in January, authorities have pulled all ‘Death Note’ books from the market. While the book itself does not encourage suicide, the young girl believed in reincarnation and sought to be reborn as a boy. Six months after the tragedy, her parents shared their testimony on the national broadcaster. Their courage in reopening this wound to prevent similar occurrences among other children is commendable. However, one must ask why it took so long, especially when such a delay could have allowed for further harm or, conversely, for time to have already begun its healing process. For once, the national channel broadcasted such personal testimonies, which is not common practice.
If the intended effect was to divert public opinion to make people forget certain issues, it was a success.
At the very least, everyone has now realized the damage that reading, watching, and being initiated into foreign cultures can inflict upon children and adolescents. The solution goes beyond mere surveillance or controlling the activities and influences surrounding the youth. The adoption of foreign phenomena by young people—driven by blind imitation—has always existed, just as it did in the past with the hippie movement or the Woodstock festival, where alcohol and drugs flowed freely as a form of protest by American youth against the Vietnam War. Although Madagascar had no connection to that festival, its influence was felt, and local artists and youths imitated it.
Currently, we are witnessing an influx of all kinds of cultures and literature from abroad among our youth. It must be noted that these were primarily intended for the youth of the countries that created them. Yet, for a country like Madagascar, which has become a ‘Société à Responsabilité Illimitée’ (SARI—Unlimited Liability Society), there are no safeguards against these trivialities. There was a time when K-pop caused havoc for several years, with annual events where young people would dress, speak, and mimic famous Korean artists like BTS, Blackpink, Seventeen, and Stray Kids.
And inevitably, everything that had to happen, happened. Even in terms of diet, people are consuming Japanese (sushi, ramen, yakitori), Mexican (tacos), Italian (pizza, panini), and Spanish (churros, paella, tortilla, gazpacho) foods.
Culture is what remains when one has forgotten everything, said French politician Édouard Herriot (a quote often mistakenly attributed to André Malraux). This detail does not change the essence, as it accurately reflects the situation the country is currently living in. Cultural identity has been lost. Efforts to replace screens with traditional games, and mangas or hentai with ‘Ikotofetsy sy Imahaka,’ ‘Trimobe sy Sohitika,’ or ‘Fara Malemy sy Ikotobekibo,’ have been in vain.
When we cultivate mediocrity by entrusting responsibilities to questionable figures, when we send harmful messages that education is unnecessary for wealth, and when we venerate corruption and trafficking, we end up with a generation incapable of discerning right from wrong, unable to distance themselves from the temptations of a consumer society, or move past their own gullibility. The tragedy is that children are becoming increasingly vulnerable, especially considering that, as UNICEF confirms, only one in two children completes primary school, and only 22% finish secondary education.
These young people lack benchmarks, role models, and idols to forge an identity or build a personality. There is a long way to go, and perhaps it is time to read ‘Earth Notes.’
Sylvain Ranjalahy
Captured & Published at: 2026-06-23 07:30:16 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/06/sari.html