The most pragmatic approach to understanding the pre-Manisotra group is to examine the socio-economic and political conditions of their era. This is the path taken by sociologist Lanto Rasidy in his critical reflection on the origins and dynamics of the ancient Imerina region.
Historical records reveal that the pre-Manisotra were originally a group of sixty individuals—thirty men and thirty women—who served as ‘ankizy’ (domestic servants) in the household of Princess Ramatoarasahala, a wife of King Andriamasinavalona. The sociologist questions how they transitioned from this status to that of household members or even ‘andevo’ (slaves).
In the history of the Highlands, the status of ‘andevo’ was not limited to those captured in the coastal slave trade. It also included people from Imerina who had lost their lineage ties due to civil wars, kidnappings, or judicial sentences. In the Merina society of the Ancien Régime, becoming a domestic dependent meant a form of ‘social death,’ characterized by a lack of ancestral land (‘tanindrazana’) and the inability to form stable family units.
Lanto Rasidy explains that their social exclusion was their primary psychological driver. Unlike free men (‘fotsy’) who risked losing their status or land in military expeditions, the pre-Manisotra had nothing to lose. This absolute destitution allowed them to act without hesitation.
The history of the Manisotra changed through an emancipation protocol initiated by Princess Ramatoarasahala. To elevate them to the rank of ‘ambaniandro’ (free subjects of the king), she subjected them to ritual trials, such as collecting crabs and insects. Upon successfully completing these rituals and receiving the royal blessing (‘tsofirano’), they ceased to be ‘andevo’ and were granted land at Ambohitraina by King Andriamasinavalona.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-29 05:38:46 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/de-dependants-domestiques-sujets-du-roi.html