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Photographer based in MADAGASCAR

Citizen perception of the Authority in Malagasy rural areas

In Madagascar, 78% of the population lives in the countryside. Who represents and holds power in these rural areas ?

I photographed the people who represent the Authority in the rural areas: member of the clergy, the gendarme, the district chief (local representative of the State), the local king, the chief Fokontany, the mayor, the "raiamandreny", the traditional doctor, etc.
These people with an "authoritarian" function in the bush have almost absolute power among the rural population. This power is granted either by the people (election), or by the State, or by the Tradition.
This power may be misused by its holder who may exploit it in his personal interest. These practices are encouraged by the apathy of the rural population, most often illiterate (in 2014, 46% of Malagasy could neither read nor write according to the Ministry of National Education) and in constant economic and food survival; this apathy is also accentuated by the prevailing political discourse affirming that "fatality" is the cause of Malagasy problems. Thus the idea of demanding an improvement of the daily life or of holding these representatives of the Authority accountable is not even (any more) envisaged. This mentality has been passed down from generation to generation and has become a general pattern of thought among the majority of Madagascar's inhabitants. This traditional form can take the name of fihavanana, which can mean solidarity, but in a broader sense, can mean "spirit of moderation". The fihavanana is a typical Malagasy way of approaching human relations on the Big Island, and is a way of "maintaining social balance" in Madagascar. But as the writer Johary RAVALOSON says, the fihavanana can be a way of enslaving the poorest and least educated against those who hold power, the Authority, thus making it possible to annihilate any contesting project.

 

This report was commissioned and produced by Collateral Creations between December 2015 and February 2016

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BETIOKY - Mr Rakotoarivelo Hasindaza, 37, is the head of the "Betioky Sud" county. He has been based in Betioky since July 20...
BETIOKY - Mr Rakotoarivelo Hasindaza, 37, is the head of the "Betioky Sud" county. He has been based in Betioky since July 20...
BETIOKY - Mrs. Sombiniaina Ronestrie, married, 2 children, 31 years old, is a teacher in a public primary school in Betioky. ...
BETIOKY - Mrs. Sombiniaina Ronestrie, married, 2 children, 31 years old, is a teacher in a public primary school in Betioky. ...
BETIOKY - Mrs. Sombiniaina Ronestrie, married, 2 children, 31 years old, is a teacher in a public primary school in Betioky. ...
BETIOKY - Mrs. Sombiniaina Ronestrie's students play during recess.
AMBOHOTSILAOZANA - Gendarmerie officer, Lieutenant Razafindrasolo Christian, 54, married, with 2 children, is the head of the...
AMBOHOTSILAOZANA - Gendarmerie officer, Lieutenant Razafindrasolo Christian, 54, married, with 2 children, is the head of the...
AMBOHOTSILAOZANA - Gendarmerie officer, Lieutenant Razafindrasolo Christian, 54, married, with 2 children, is the head of the...
AMBOHOTSILAOZANA - Gendarmerie officer, Lieutenant Razafindrasolo Christian, 54, married, with 2 children, is the head of the...
AMBATONDRAZAKA - Mrs. Liva Razafindrabe, 35 years old, widow, 3 children, is a reporter in a famous local radio in Ambatondra...
AMBATONDRAZAKA - Mrs. Liva Razafindrabe, 35 years old, widow, 3 children, is a reporter in a famous local radio in Ambatondra...
AMBATONDRAZAKA - Mrs. Liva Razafindrabe, 35 years old, widow, 3 children, is a reporter in a famous local radio in Ambatondra...
AMBATONDRAZAKA - Mrs. Liva Razafindrabe, 35 years old, widow, 3 children, is a reporter in a famous local radio in Ambatondra...
BEHAHITSE COMMUNE - Members of the Betioky "fokonolona" (community) met in Behahitse village, Ampanihy district, southern Mad...
BEHAHITSE COMMUNE - Members of the Betioky "fokonolona" (community) met in Behahitse village, Ampanihy district, southern Mad...
BEHAHITSE COMMUNE - Members of the Betioky "fokonolona" (community) met in Behahitse village, Ampanihy district, southern Mad...
COMMUNE ANKILIABO - Mr. Esoavinta, 51 years old, married, six children, was elected mayor of the municipality of Ankiliabo in...
COMMUNE ANKILIABO - Mr. Esoavinta, 51 years old, married, six children, was elected mayor of the municipality of Ankiliabo in...
MANAKABAHINY - Mr Randrianarivony, 62 years old, married, ten children and about twenty grandchildren, is a farmer and fokont...
MANAKABAHINY - Mr Randrianarivony, 62 years old, married, ten children and about twenty grandchildren, is a farmer and fokont...
FOKONTANY MANAKARALAHY NORTH - Mr Lazamana Jean-Paul is "raiamandreny" (a head of family, an "elder"). He lives in his house ...
FOKONTANY MANAKARALAHY NORTH - Mr Lazamana Jean-Paul is "raiamandreny" (a head of family, an "elder"). He lives in his house ...
ANKAZOTA LOCALITY - EFIONJONANE says he is the King of the Mahafaly ethnic group. He's 80 years old. Its power extends over t...
ANKAZOTA SITE - EFIONJONANE says he is the King of the Mahafaly ethnic group. He's 80 years old. Its power extends over the w...
ANKAZOTA SITE - EFIONJONANE says he is the King of the Mahafaly ethnic group. He's 80 years old. Its power extends over the w...
BEKINAGNA AMBONE LOCALITY- Mr EMANINTSIDRAZA is a diviner-healer (Mpimasy), married to three women, father of 9 children and ...
BEKINAGNA AMBONE LOCALITY- Mr EMANINTSIDRAZA is a diviner-healer (Mpimasy), married to three women, father of 9 children and ...
BEKINAGNA AMBONE LOCALITY- Mr EMANINTSIDRAZA is a diviner-healer (Mpimasy), married to three women, father of 9 children and ...
BETIOKY - Mr Mahatoky, married, 57, is a pastor of the Lutheran Protestant Church since 1985. He is also President of the Sou...
BETIOKY - A parishioner attends the worship of Pastor Mahatoky.
BETIOKY - A ruined church in Betioky. The parish was never able to find the funds to renovate it.
MAHATSINJO - Mr Samson, married, 3 children, is pastor of the Protestant FJKM church at Toby Karmela. A "toby" (which can be ...
MAHATSINJO - Mr Samson, married, 3 children, is pastor of the Protestant FJKM church at Toby Karmela. A "toby" (which can be ...
MAHATSINJO - Mr Samson, married, 3 children, is pastor of the Protestant FJKM church at Toby Karmela. A "toby" (which can be ...
MAHATSINJO - Exorcism session on a 13-year-old girl at Toby Karmela. A "toby" (which can be translated as "camp") is a kind o...
MAHATSINJO - Exorcism session on a 13-year-old girl at Toby Karmela. A "toby" (which can be translated as "camp") is a kind o...
AMPARAFARAVOLA - Mr. Rakotondraoasy Joelson, 54, married, is a Protestant pastor and founder of the FILAMATRA church based in...
AMPARAFARAVOLA - The FILAMATRA church based in the commune of Ambalafarisoa-Amparafaravola (Eastern Madagascar). Pastor Rakot...
AMPARAFARAVOLA - The FILAMATRA church based in the commune of Ambalafarisoa-Amparafaravola (Eastern Madagascar). Pastor Rakot...
AMPARAFARAVOLA - The FILAMATRA church based in the commune of Ambalafarisoa-Amparafaravola (Eastern Madagascar). Pastor Rakot...
AMPARAFARAVOLA - The FILAMATRA church based in the commune of Ambalafarisoa-Amparafaravola (Eastern Madagascar). Pastor Rakot...
AMPARAFARAVOLA - The FILAMATRA church based in the commune of Ambalafarisoa-Amparafaravola (Eastern Madagascar). Pastor Rakot...
AMPARAFARAVOLA - The FILAMATRA church based in the commune of Ambalafarisoa-Amparafaravola (Eastern Madagascar). Pastor Rakot...
MANGALAZA COMMUNE - Mr. Odet Rafaralahy works as cultural manager in the Alaotra Mangoro Regional Council. But above all, he ...
MANGALAZA COMMUNE - Mr. Odet Rafaralahy works as cultural manager in the Alaotra Mangoro Regional Council. But above all, he ...
MANGALAZA COMMUNE - "Mpanazary" in the middle of a trans session. They are members of the ANTALAOTRA association, the largest...
MANGALAZA COMMUNE - "Mpanazary" in the middle of a trans session. They are members of the ANTALAOTRA association, the largest...
MANGALAZA COMMUNE - "Mpanazary" in the middle of a trans session. They are members of the ANTALAOTRA association, the largest...
MANGALAZA COMMUNE - "Mpanazary" in the middle of a trans session. They are members of the ANTALAOTRA association, the largest...
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