Who lives in Madagascar?

The Malagasy people, some fortunate foreigners and many lemurs. Here is some information concerning their origins: http://news.mongabay.com/2005/0708-wildm...
http://www.masombahiny.com/Madagascar_an...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/187701...
The Malagasy people have some unique traditions and customs. Malagasy familes always have strong bond. All children live with their parents until they want to get married or they want to move out at their own will, and it does no matter at what age that is. The Malagasy traditions are very unique, for example, during an engagement. When two people are in love and are ready to move onto marriage, they must first engaged. Engagement in Madagascar is marked with a big celebration and in front of relatives from both sides and friends. During the celebration, close relatives from both sides are invited, the groom to be brings a gift for the future bride's parent as an honor and thanks for raising a beautiful daughter, and the engagement ring for the bride to be. During the 17th, 18th, 19th century, engagement was the actual wedding for the Malagasy couple, however, in the 20th and 21st century, there is an engagement, and a separate wedding day.
Another example of the Malagasy traditions and customs is circumcision. When a child is about to be circumcised, all close relatives and friends are invited, a big feast is prepared, and people party all night. At dawn, the child is taken to a hospital to be circumcised, the family awaits at home. When the child gets back, the family, and friends offers toys, money, chocolates, and lots of candies. Then, the party is over.
Also part of the Malagasy traditions and customs is the way people is buried. Unlike in the U.S, where people are buried at cemeteries, families in Madagascar have their own tombstone. Tombstone that their ancestors had built and the families
have renovated. These tombstone are huge, very spacious, and well decorated, almost like the Egyptian pyramids but with many stone-beds that fits generations after generations.
The Malagasy people's main dish is rice. Rice is the Malagasy people's main dish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is served with all kinds of meat and vegetables, and soups (romazava). The Malagasy dish, style of cooking , and taste of the food is very similar to the French cuisine.

Madagascar's population is predominantly of mixed Austronesian and African origin, though those who are visibly Austronesian in appearance and culture are the minority, found in the highland regions. Recent research suggests that the island was uninhabited until Austronesian seafarers arrived between about 2,000 to 1,500 years ago. Recent DNA research shows that the Malagasy are approximately of half Austronesian and half East African stock, although some Arab, Indian and European influence is present along the coast. The Malagasy language shares some 90% of its basic vocabulary with the Maanyan language from the region of the Barito River in southern Borneo.

Subsequent migrations from both the East Indies and Africa further consolidated this original mixture, and 36 separate tribal groups emerged. Asian features are most predominant in the Merina (3 million) ; the coastal people (called c么tiers) are of more clearly African origin. The largest coastal groups are the Betsimisaraka (1.5 million) and the Tsimihety and Sakalava (700,000 each). The Vezo live in the southwest. Two of the southern tribes are the Antandroy and the Antanosy. In 1993 (last census) there were 18,497 foreign residents on Madagascar, or 0.15 percent of the population.

the penguins!
marty!
gloria!
melman!
alex!
THE FOOSA!! [thank you allison k.]

I do not live in Madagascar, but not very far from it.