Love & Legacy: Famadihana
“Love & Legacy” is an essay series that explores how different cultures commemorate loss and death, transforming mourning into celebration and legacy, and turning that legacy into activism. We invite you to carry the legacy forward by honoring someone special through donations or bequests to WILPF US, helping to sustain our work. For more information about leaving a legacy at WILPF, please contact plannedgiving@wilpfus.org.
In Madagascar, the Malagasy people celebrate Famadihana, or “turning of the bones.” This occasion occurs every five to seven years as a time to reunite with deceased loved ones. The Malagasy people do not believe in heaven or hell; instead, they view death as a transition into a second life. They believe that the dead remain in their bodies until they are completely decomposed, with their souls lingering between the land of the living and the realm of the ancestors. It is said that these souls may appear to their descendants in dreams, expressing that they are cold, which signals the start of the Famadihana rituals—an event marked not by sadness but by celebration.
The care of the bones does not only benefit those in the in-between state; it also serves those in the second life. Famadihana provides an opportunity to demonstrate love, pay respects, and ask for protection. As the ritual begins, participants clean their homes, gather offerings, don colorful clothing, and travel to the two-day celebration. The hosting family typically invests significantly in the tomb and festivities.
To commence the event, the deceased are taken from their crypt feet-first, allowing the family to observe the state of the bones. If the bones are clean, it is seen as a sign of blessings and the ancestor’s happiness. The bones are then wrapped in a lamba—a shawl worn for ceremonial occasions—and paraded around the crowd in celebration. After this, community members enjoy a feast that symbolizes life, family, and relationships. The bones are then returned to their resting place before sunset, this time head-first. This change in direction signifies a new phase for the soul as it enters its second life. The return occurs before nightfall to prevent the sun from sapping the energy of the living and to avoid any negative influences associated with the night.
Famadihana embodies a broader belief within this culture that the dead are not entirely gone; instead, they actively participate in the lives of the living and serve as guardians of the family. This notion creates a generational connection that transcends physical existence. By maintaining Famadihana traditions, families ensure that the ancestral pathways of guidance and knowledge remain open for future generations.
Activist Legacies: Spotlight on Gisèle Rabesahala
Gisèle Rabesahala, also known as Mother Courage, paved the way for female leadership in Madagascar with her commitment to activism and solidarity. Photo by Women in African History: an E-Learning Tool. Photo licensed under CC BY SA 4.0.
On May 7, 1929, Gisèle Rabesahala, who would come to be known as Mother Courage, was born into a French military family in Madagascar. She invested in her education early, obtaining an elementary certificate and training to become a professional stenographer and typist. At 17, she became the secretary of Madagascar’s liberation front, the Democratic Movement for the Renovation of Madagascar (MDRM). In 1947, as World War II drew to a close, rebels revolted against French occupiers. By 1950, colonial authorities reported approximately 11,000 Malagasy deaths, though foreign analysts estimate the death toll to be around 100,000.
After the MDRM was dissolved in 1950, Rabesahala established the Madagascar Solidarity Committee to support victims of oppression. She also founded a newspaper, “Imongo Vaovao,” to promote the independence movement in Madagascar. By the age of 30, Gisèle became the first woman elected to a city council position and the first female leader of the Congress Party for the Independence of Madagascar.
Madagascar achieved independence in 1960, but it took another 16 years for the French army to leave the island. In 1977, Rabesahala became the first female minister when she assumed the role of Minister of Culture and Revolutionary Art. During her tenure, she restored over 25 historical sites and founded a national library to enhance access to knowledge, ensuring the presence of original Malagasy texts.
Though she ran for president, she was not elected. However, she served as Deputy Speaker of the Senate for two years. In 2006, Rabesahala penned a book about her experiences in the struggle for freedom and her views on politics, titled Let Freedom Come to Us! She never married or had children, explaining that she preferred to serve her country over an individual.
Gisèle Rabesahala passed away on June 27, 2011, leaving behind a legacy of courage, compassion, wisdom, and leadership. She fundamentally transformed Madagascar’s political landscape and paved the way for future female leaders.
Love & Legacy” is an essay series exploring how cultures commemorate loss and death, turn mourning into celebration and legacy, and legacy into activism. We invite you to carry the legacy forward: honor someone special by donating in memoriam or making a bequest to WILPF US to sustain our work. Contact plannedgiving@wilpfus.org to learn about leaving a legacy at WILPF.
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/18/travel/madagascar-turning-bones
https://africa.si.edu/exhibits/malagasy/funerary.html
https://www.britannica.com/place/Madagascar/Daily-life-and-social-customs#ref1010722
https://thinkafrica.net/gisele-rabesahala-visionary-and-a-human-rights-lawyer/
https://beyondthesinglestory.wordpress.com/2020/11/09/gisele-rabesahala/
https://thinkafrica.net/gisele-rabesahala-visionary-and-a-human-rights-lawyer/
