Antaisaka

Antaisaka or Antesaka literally means People of the valley. The small tribe of Antaisaka constitues about 5.3% of the population of Madagascar. They are descendants of the western Sakalava tribe and live south of Farafangana on the southeast coast of the island. In the 19th century the Antaisaka were fearsome warriors.

The Antaisaka cultivate coffee, bananas and rice. Their houses are made of Ravinala and built on stilts. Often the houses have two doors. One door functions as a normal entrance. The second one is usually located on the east side and is only used for taking out corpses. The Antaisaka bury the dead in cummunal burial houses (kibory) on slopes. Before the final funeral, the corpse has to dry out at a hidden place in the forest.