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Kabary is a traditional form of Malagasy public speech, often conducted as a call-and-response dialogedialogue, including a rich use of metaphors and proverbs. Kabary was originally used in at public gatherings in a pre-literate era and throughout the [[Merina|Imerina]] Kingdom. The practice was suppressed during the French colonisation but has reemerged in political circles following independence. Still today, Kabary is an integral part of the Malagasy culture and society.
Kabary and its less formalised counterpart ''[[resaka]]'' may can include poetry and musicmusical performances.
A ''mpikabary'' is a person proficient in the art of kabary. A mpikabary is often hired to represent a bride or groom during meetings between their respective families prior to the wedding. In case a family does not like the use of words or the proverbs of used by the other family, the entire wedding may can be called off. In kabary the main point of the discussion is always avoided. For example, in during a kabari at a funural, the name of the deceased cannot be mentioned.