Lamba Hoany: proverb cloths from Madagascar

African Arts, Summer, 2003 by Rebecca L. Green

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Other expressions comment on the difficulty of life, as in %y moramora ny milady vola, or "It is not easy to obtain money," found on a cloth featuring a beach scene of a thatch house under a palm tree, with a pirogue floating nearby (Fig. 12). The problem of money is expressed in various ways on lamba hoany. One example depicts a large central circle containing a 5000-francs malgaches note (approximately $0.75 U.S.), with smaller versions in the four corners, all on a background of tiny 5000 frog notes (Fig. 13). This example does not include additional text, since file images already allude to the continual search for it. References to power and empowerment can also be found in floral-designed textiles with sayings such as Fikasana ny anao fa ny didy any tompo: "The intention is yours, but the command is the boss's" (Fig. 14).

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Love is always a popular topic. Tiako tsy ambelako ("I will not lose what I love") appears against an umbrella design (Fig. 15), and Azon'ny tanako tsy avelako ("I will not lose what I have in my hand") is printed on a stylized green floral pattern on yellow ground (Fig. 16). Izay tiana mitombo tarehy, which translates as "One who loves has a big character," is paired with a floral design that resembles a snowflake, while in another textile example with the saying Tsara roa satria tiako ianao, "Two is good because 1 love you," bright red and green kerosene lanterns float over a bright yellow background. The message is that being or having two--people, things, feelings, etc.--is necessary for a "couple," which is a desirable state (Fig. 17). Mandry amin'ny raha tiana tsy marary, "You will not get sick if you sleep with whom (or what) you love," is one of my favorites because of the associated image, a cowherd and his cows (Fig. 18). The juxtaposition of text and imagery was a cause for much joking among my Malagasy friends and informants.

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Lamba hoany can also commemorate important events. One cloth depicts Madagascar's Independence Day (June 26) by depicting a celebratory parade of young men and women of various ethnicities (differentiated through clothing and hairstyles) carrying torches and brightly colored paper lanterns illuminated by candles (Figs. 19, 20). Some events are specific to a particular ethnic group. A cloth observing the ceremonial renewal of the Antakarana royalty during a long and involved Tsangan-tsaigny, an event that takes place every seven years, is bordered on the top and bottom only and is printed continuously with the Antakarana symbol of a four-pointed star cradled within and above a quarter moon. important monuments are commemorated as well, as can be seen in the cloth Palais de la Reine ("Queen's Palace") depicting the Merina royal palace, Rova, which was destroyed by fire in 1995 (Figs. 21, 22). Finally, a strong ethnic and national identity is expressed in cloths imprinted with Madagascar tanin-drazako, "Madagascar my ancestral land," which shows a large horse bordered by many smaller horses (Fig. 23), and Gasy ka manja, "Malagasy is strong," a single snowflakelike flower on a checkerboard background punctuated by tiny dots. Interestingly, both cloths were made in India.