Mesmerizing Madagascar Trivia Quiz

Answer: Indian subcontinent

Madagascar became an island approximately 160 million years ago, after splitting from Africa. It was then attached to the Indian subcontinent for a long period of time. As the Indian subcontinent slowly made its way up into Asia, Madagascar was breaking apart.

It is believed that around 80 to 100 million years ago Madagascar became an island, after separating from the Indian subcontinent.

Answer: Diogo Dias

In 1500, a Portuguese ship captain, Diogo Dias, sighted the island now known as Madagascar. While sailing with a fleet of ships heading towards India, Diogo's ship strayed off course. Diogo, and later other Portuguese ship captains, traded some goods with the islanders. Diogo called the island St. Lawrence.

Answer: Pirates

Around 1680 pirates started to set up camps on Madagascar's coasts. Famous pirates such as William Kidd, Thomas Tew, and Henry Every were just some of the many pirates that had bases on some of the many islands of Madagascar. The pirates that inhabited Madagascar would attack ships, heading from Asia to Europe, and steal their silks, spices, and other goods that the ships were transporting.

Answer: Algeria

Ramboasalama was the nephew of the ruler Ambohimanga, both of whom were Merinas. Ramboasalama then expelled his uncle and gained control of his uncle's kingdom in 1785. Ramboasalama took the throne under the name Andrianampoinimerina. There were many different Merina tribes across the land that is now called Madagascar.

He united these tribes by marrying princesses of the different Merina tribes, and by 1788 he had established a kingdom that would be known as the Imerina. After Andrianampoinimerina stepped down six more rulers would control the Merina Kingdom, before being sent into exile.

In 1883 Madagascar was invaded by France. This invasion began the Franco-Hova War. The French won the war, with the signing of a treaty that gave France control over Madagascar's foreign policy.

Then the Second Franco-Hova War broke out in 1894. The war officially ended in September of 1895, when Queen Ranavalona III surrendering. In 1896 the French National Assembly voted to annex Madagascar. The Queen, after being deposed with the rest of the royal family, was sent into exile in Algiers, Algeria in 1897.

Answer: France

Madagascar was imperialized by Great Britain in the 19th century. Great Britain allowed a French Protectorate in Madagascar, in return for control over Zanzibar, which later became Tanzania. After World War II ended, the Malagasy people, the inhabitants of Madagascar at the time, started to form movements and revolts in the country to overthrow the French.

In 1958 the Malagasy Republic was formed, and this gave the denizens of Madagascar a government. In 1959 a constitution was made. Then on June 26, 1960, Madagascar became fully independent from France. Philibert Tsiranana became Madagascar's first president after becoming fully independent. Denizens of Madagascar are called Malagasy.

Answer: Marc Ravalomanana

Andry Rajoelina was elected mayor of Antananarivo in late 2007. There was a lot of tension between Andry and Marc Ravalomanana. Andry went as far as to call Marc a dictator. On January 24 and 25 of 2009, Andry and his fellow citizens of Madagascar assembled in Antananarivo to protest. On January 26, 2009, the protests turned violent.

The protesters set fire to a radio station, a television station, and robbed local shops. After setting fire to another radio station dead bodies started turning up.

A total of 44 people died in the attacks that took place on January 26, 2009. As the amount of protest being held rose, so did the death toll. On March 17, 2009 Ravalomanana resigned as President of Madagascar, and fled to Swaziland. Just four days later Rajoelina was sworn in as President of Madagascar.

The crisis would eventually end on November 7, 2009. The death toll reached over 130 deaths. A unity government deal was reached between both parties of the fighting. There was also a creation of two co-presidents.

The two Malagasy people who were named co-presidents were Emmanuel Rakotovahiny and Fetison Rakoto Andrianirina.

Answer: Coca-Cola

The Coca-Cola Company was a major buyer of vanilla that came from Madagascar. In 1985 Coca-Cola introduced the New Coke formula, which involved using synthetic vanillin, instead of real vanilla. Due to the switch from vanilla to vanillin Madagascar's economy dropped a lot.

When the customer's of Coca-Cola showed their dissatisfaction for the new formula, Coca-Cola switched back to their old formula. Madagascar's economy then rose back to its normal levels before the new formula was released.

Answer: English

Malagasy and French were the first official languages of Madagascar. On April 27, 2007 English was officially dubbed an official language of Madagascar. English was named an official language to help improve the relations between English-speaking nations around the world and also to help promote foreign direct investment.

Answer: Oh, Our Beloved Fatherland

The Madagascar national anthem is made up of three stanzas and a chorus. The lyrics were written by Norbert Raharisoa. The music that goes to the anthem was composed by Pasteur Rahajason. The anthem was written in 1958.

Here's the anthem in Malagasy:

"Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô!
Ry Madagasikara soa.
Ny Fitiavanay anao tsy miala,
Fa ho anao, ho anao doria tokoa.

Tahionao ry Zanahary
'Ty Nosindrazanay ity
Hiadana sy ho finaritra
He! Sambatra tokoa izahay.

Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô!
Irinay mba hanompoan'anao
Ny tena sy fo fanahy anananay,
'Zay sarobidy sy mendrika tokoa.

Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô!
Irinay mba hitahian'anao,
Ka Ilay Nahary 'zao tontolo izao
No fototra ijoroan'ny satanao."

This is national anthem after being translated into English:

"Oh, Our beloved fatherland
Oh good Madagascar.
Our love for you will not leave,
For you, for you for ever.

Bless you, oh Creator
This island of our ancestors
To live in peace and joy
Hey! We are truly blessed.

Oh our beloved fatherland!
We wish to serve you with
The body and heart, spirit that is ours,
You are precious and truly deserving.

Oh our beloved fatherland!
We wish that you will be blessed,
So that the Creator of this world
Will be the foundation of your laws."

Answer: Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve

UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. In order to have a site in a country become a UNESCO World Heritage Site it must meet one of ten criteria. Six of the criteria are cultural, while the other four are natural criteria. Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve was Madagascar's first site to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve is a nature reserve located near Morondava, Antsalova. In the reserve are various types of lemurs indigenous to Madagascar, wild birds also indigenous to Madagascar, and mangrove forests. Since becoming a World Heritage Site, the southern portion of the nature reserve was converted into a national park. The northern portion of the area was left as a strict nature reserve.

The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga was chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, and the Rainforest of the Atsinanana in 2007. Abu Simbel is actually in Egypt and was chosen in 1979 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.