Nativity from Madagascar

“Madagascar, the fourth-largest island in the world, is a nation off the southeastern coast of Africa. Formerly a French colony, the island gained independence in 1960. Approximately half of the Malagasy population practices indigenous beliefs, while most of the remaining population are Christian and Muslim. Christian beliefs are often integrated with elements of traditional beliefs.

This Nativity has been carved from fanazava wood, a wood with a light cream color. It was purchased from a carver in an open-air market in the capital city, Antananarivo, famous for its many woodcarving workshops. Madagascar has a highly developed carving tradition with regional variations within the island. Especially notable are the carvings of the Zafimaniry people; in 2008 UNESCO included their ‘woodcrafting knowledge’ on a list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity sites around the world.” (Ed and Kirsten Gyllenhaal, label text, “World Nativities 2020”)