Madagascar.
Madagascar
1955
Malagasy comics began with Ny ombalahibemaso, a Malagasy-language educational comic about King Andrianampoinimerina published from 1961 to 1963, often called the first comic of Madagascar.
A golden age followed in the 1980s, when magazines and comic books such as Benandro and Koditra appeared in Malagasy and Anselme Razafindrainibe's group made the satirical magazine Sarigasy. The crisis of the early 1990s ended that boom, and since then press cartoonists such as Elisé Ranarivelo, Aimé Razafy and Pov have carried the tradition, while newer authors such as Dwa publish through the Reunion house Des Bulles dans l'Océan.
19
24
1955
2000s
Artists from Madagascar in the archive.
Comics from Madagascar in the archive.
Hehy, the earliest comic from Madagascar in the archive.
The decade when the most new comics from Madagascar began.
bande dessinée
Madagascar in 4 chapters
A short history you can leaf through. Click a page, use the arrow keys, or press Turn the page to read on.
Madagascar.
4 chapters
Chapter 1
1955
to 1963
Satirical papers and the first Malagasy comic
1955
to 1963
Chapter 01
Satirical papers and the first Malagasy comic
The satirical paper Hehy began in 1955 with a front-page cartoon by Gabin, and the Catholic youth paper Ibalita printed Malagasy versions of Franco-Belgian comics from 1957 to 1964. Ny ombalahibemaso, drawn by Jean Ramamonjisoa and later by Mira, came out in three booklets from 1961 to 1963.
1978
to 1991
Chapter 02
The golden age of comic books
Xhi and M'aa appeared in four issues of the French magazine Charlie mensuel in 1978, and Roddy published his first album in 1979. From 1981 the magazine Fararano Gazety carried comics, and publishers such as Horaka and Tsileondriaka printed Malagasy-language series like Benandro, Koditra and Ibonia. The first comics festival was held in 1984 at the Centre culturel Albert Camus, and Anselme and his brothers founded the Association des bédéistes malgaches in 1985.
1991
to 2007
Chapter 03
Crisis and press cartoons
The crisis of the early 1990s stopped the small comic-book market, and many artists turned to illustration or newspaper cartoons. Elisé Ranarivelo joined L'Express de Madagascar in 1994 and Pov joined Midi Madagasikara in 1997, while the Malagasy-language humour paper Ngah sold thousands of copies on the street. In 2007 only 6 of the 1,028 titles in the Malagasy book directory were comics.
2008
to today
Chapter 04
New authors and publishing abroad
Didier Mada BD and others took Malagasy comics to European festivals, and the French magazine BoDoï gave Madagascar a special section in 2008. Ndrematoa published Tana Blues with L'Harmattan in 2013, and Dwa, Heri Shinato and Catmouse James presented albums from Des Bulles dans l'Océan at Angoulême in January 2024. In 2016 an authors' association reissued Ny ombalahibemaso in facsimile.
The comics to know
- Ny ombalahibemaso1961 · comic book seriesRahajarizafy (text source), Jean Ramamonjisoa and Mira (artists). Three educational booklets about King Andrianampoinimerina, widely seen as the first Malagasy comic.
- Benandrocomic book seriesRichard Rabesandratana. Horaka series from the early 1980s, described as the longest and most popular Malagasy comic.
- Koditra1984 · comics magazineHoraka. Magazine whose hero Bobel made it one of the biggest hits of the golden age.
- Sarigasy1986 · comics magazineAnselme Razafindrainibe and Aimé Razafy. Satirical comics magazine of the Association des bédéistes malgaches, hit by censorship.
- Ngahcomics magazineAndriankototiana Ratovohery (editor). Eight-page Malagasy-language humour comics paper sold by street vendors.
- Retour d'Afrique1999 · graphic novelAnselme Razafindrainibe. First album of Anselme, drawn after work for a United Nations agency.
- Tana Blues2013 · graphic novelNdrematoa. Album published in Paris by L'Harmattan.
- Mégacomplots à Tananarive2012 · graphic novelPov and Dwa. Joint album published by Des Bulles dans l'Océan.
The people to know
- Richard RabesandratanaDied 2017Co-founder of the publisher Horaka and creator of Benandro; died in September 2017.
- Anselme Razafindrainibe1956 to 2011Satirist and album author; won a first prize at the Nairobi comics festival in 1985.
- Aimé RazafyDied 2009Press cartoonist who opened newsroom doors to cartoonists; died in 2009.
- Elisé RanariveloCreator of Professeur Mahiratra and long-time cartoonist of L'Express de Madagascar.
- PovPress cartoonist at Midi Madagasikara, later also in Mauritius.
- NdrematoaBorn 1956Cartoonist and album author working since 1978.
- Didier Mada BDAuthor of historical albums and founder of the association Mada BD Kolontsaina.
- DwaBorn 1982Younger author published by Des Bulles dans l'Océan.
More artists from Madagascar
More comics from Madagascar
All 24 comics- Iboniacomic book series
- Putain d'Afrique2011 · graphic novel
- Professeur Mahiratracomic book series
- Aventures dans l'Océan Indien1984 · graphic novel
- Tefy et Tianacomic book series
- Vendetta2008 · graphic novel
- Saringotra2005 · comics magazine
- Pink Diary2005 to 2008 · comic book series
- Citron2005 · graphic novel
- Sans ciblecomic strip
- Hehy1955 to 1977 · comics magazine
- Fararano Gazety1981 to 1987 · comics magazine