June 23, 2004
"Foreign Influence on Malagasy Culture"
by Haley Houghton

During siesta a few weeks ago, I was sitting in the shade playing with my favorite village dog when I heard a familiar tune in the background. Ranary, the team MICET driver, was playing a tape while he made some repairs on the research vehicle. I heard the rest of the team grow silent in the refectoire as we all tried to identify the familiar tune. “Crocodile Rock?” someone said hesitantly and we all burst out laughing. It was Elton John, alright! It was so comforting to hear familiar music but also a bit disconcerting. A small part of me always feels comforted when I encounter American culture here in Madagascar. The rest of me wonders what aspects of Malagasy culture were lost by the encroachment of foreign culture…and the influence is everywhere from the stars and stripes on Alain’s field shorts to the Jay-Z album for sale at the local music shop. People even show interest in American politics. While visiting Rova, the Queen’s Palace in Tana, we met an English-speaking guide. Not wanting a tour, we declined and walked away. He yelled after us, “We like John Kerry! Vote Kerry!” Stunned, we just smiled and continued down the street. Many of my encounters with American or other non-Malagasy cultures are like that…they leave me speechless and conflicted—other times, like having to listen to ABBA at full volume in a taxi brousse for two hours, they’re just funny.