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Sihanaka literally means ''People of the swamps''. The Sihanaka is a small tribe of rice farmers and fishermen, representing about 2.5% of the population of Madagascar. Their home are the northern highlands, northeast of the old kingdom of [[Merina|Imerina]] around [[Lake Alaotra]] with [[Ambatondrazaka]] beeing being the capital. The Sihanaka originate from the [[Antaisaka]] of the east coast. From [[Mahakary]], the first village built by the Sihanaka, they populated the rest of the lake borders. They have been conquered by the [[Merina]] in the early 19th century.
The Sihanaka people have much in common with the Merina people. They also practise wet-rice cultivation similar to that of the Merina.
The graves of the Sihanakas are decorated with up to 10m high wooden stilts ([[jiro]]).