Masabao (Madagascar)
- May 10
- 1 min read
Masabao is a traditional music group from southern Madagascar, founded in 2008 by Manambilo Zanatsoa. Their music is rooted in Taroba-Beko, a traditional style of the Tandroy people, an ethnic group from the arid far south of the island. The group’s name refers to the prickly pear cactus, a plant that thrives in the harsh southern landscape, and like the plant, the group has grown slowly and steadily since its founding. Their songs address the daily life of rural communities as well as serious issues including drought, famine, deforestation, and children’s rights, with the belief that music can serve as a vehicle for social change.
Featured Song:
“Rombaho” (Save Them) is a previously unreleased song written and composed by Manambilo Zanatsoaon behalf of the Tandroy people, who face chronic drought and famine in Madagascar’s southern region. The song pushes back against the perception that the Tandroy are lazy, arguing instead that they are simply overwhelmed by conditions beyond their control. “Some think the Tandroy are lazy because they always complain / But they are too vulnerable because of the climate / The drought worsens year after year / They are not weak / Save them / It is not too late / For they are still part of the family.”
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