Madagascar: ASSOCIATIVE LIFE – The “Vezo” association wants to remain strong

The association “Vavea” or “Vahatse Ty Vezo Aharo” celebrated the new year 2024, emphasizing that the traditional community wants to remain strong and united.

The “Vezo” remain a strong ethnic group. This was the main message conveyed last Saturday during a large gathering for the celebration of the new year among the members of the “Vavea” or “Vahatse ty Vezo Aharo” association. It was held at the main hall of the Père Barré Institute in Sanfily Toliara.

This association, created in Toliara, brings together members belonging to the Vezo ethnic group scattered throughout the island and even abroad, also celebrates its thirteen years of existence. “Vahatse Ty Vezo Aharo” meaning the “Vezo” gathered remain rooted, is very strong. The strength of “Vavea” lies in the unity of its members and our traditional community wants to increase this strength, said Colonel Rabe Jules, founding president of Vavea.

The association is present on the coast of the Atsimo-Andrefana region from Saint-Augustin to Morombe, and has about one hundred and forty “Hazomanga” or “lineage holders” in free translation. Members are registered in cells and sections such as Sakaraha, Ankililoaka, Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Toamasina, Mahajanga, and in France. Members from these districts attended the celebration last Saturday. “One of the medium-term goals is to increase the number of members among the diasporas in other countries and to make them, initially, a cell in Europe,” he continued.

Politics

The paths taken by the association in contributing to the restoration of social peace were emphasized.

“Vavea comes to the aid of its members in difficulty and participates in development projects that directly or indirectly affect its members and remains a force for proposing the well-being of the “Vezo”,” enjoined Julien Mandrano, current president of “Vavea.” He also clarified that the association does not engage in politics.

“Seven members belonging to Vavea want to run for the legislative elections. It is their choice but the association does not endorse them and these members cannot use the association for their personal interests,” warned the association’s president. Last Saturday’s celebration was a show of strength for the “Vezo” association, which is improving its internal structures by highlighting the various components such as the founding college, the “Vavea” Women, the union of Vezo executives, and Vezo students. A special building

“Vavea” is under construction in Toliara. Vezo traditions were displayed at the party, such as the traditional Vezo fisherman’s paddle that accompanies the association’s president during his speech. The “Hazomanga” donned their traditional ceremonial attire, traditional music, and chants. Not to mention the dried cassava and fried fish at the entrance of the traditional Vezo menu.

MiotiSoa Mare