Madagascar is an island nation that is geographically grouped with the African continent. But culturally, linguistically, and genetically, it’s a blend of two worlds - one of which lies thousands of kilometers away in Southeast Asia. Madagascar is the only country in Africa whose dominant language and much of its culture come not from Africa, but from Asia.
The President of Madagascar - Britannica
The President surrounded by members of the Madagascar army - Le Monde
The roots of Madagascar’s Asian identity trace back to ancient seafarers from what is now Indonesia. Around 1,500 years ago, these voyagers crossed the Indian Ocean in outrigger canoes. When they landed on Madagascar, they found an uninhabited island rich in biodiversity, and they stayed.
Map of Austronesian languages - Wikipedia
About 500 to 700 years later, migrants from Africa began arriving in Madagascar, and through many centuries of coexistence, Malagasy culture and society gradually took shape.
The modern Malagasy language, the official tongue of Madagascar along with French, belongs to the Austronesian linguistic family and has much in common with Indonesian and Malay. The difference between Malagasy and Indonesian is roughly the same as between Italian and Spanish.
Former President of Madagascar - Wikipedia
Beyond language, Austronesian heritage in Malagasy culture is evident in traditional boat-building techniques, rice terrace farming, ancestral worship practices, as well as in culinary traditions and architecture - all of which trace back to Southeast Asian origins.