Tanala

Tanala literally means People of the forest. Almost 4% of the population of Madagascar are Tanala. They are a small tribe of forest dwellers living inland, separating the east coast from the central highlands. The Ranomafana National Park is located in the area of the Tanala.

The Tanala tribe is divided into two groups: the Ikongo in the south and the Menabe in the north. Their houses are usually built on stilts. Beside slash-and-burn agriculture in the forest, the grow rice, corn, yams and coffee.

The traditional dance of the Tanala is the Dombolo.