Tribes: Sakalava of Sambirano

Sambirano is a region located in Northern Madagascar. Sambirano is a
river which flows through the town of Ambanja; it is the biggest town
in the Sambirano region. Most people in this region believe in
possession despite the Christian influences in Madagascar. Possession
is Tromba in the Malagasy language.

First of all, Tromba is a spirit of dead kings who comes to someone
and we call them possessed. That is to say, after many years of the
death of a king their spirit can incarnate. A woman is really sick
before she will be incarnated by the Tromba. And then, her family
will find someone to ask what causes her disease. If there will be a
Tromba embodying the woman, the predictor will know this. When her
family arrives at home they have to call someone who has the same
Tromba as the woman has. The Tromba tells them what he wants and what
is prohibited. Furthermore, her family will organize a big feast of
the Tromba. At that moment, the woman who is possessed by Tromba will
sit in front of the guests in between the Tromba. On her left and old
man will pray in order to call a new Tromba. Generally, Tromba
incarnate to women because they are boys.

Moreover, when Tromba comes, the woman trembles. When he embodies the
woman the woman has to wear new clothes (the clothes of Tromba). And
then, the Tromba takes a seat and introduces himself. If he doesn't
know his parents he is not a real Tromba. During his introduction his
grandparents and his parents are present. After that he can play with
the other Tromba. When a Tromba comes it is the say way as a king has
died.

Besides, Tromba gives rules to the possessed person. He gives
forbidden things depending on how the king died. For example, a
possessed woman is forbidden to drink coffee because the kind died
when he drank coffee. Tromba can heal and punish human beings.

To conclude, Tromba is a belief similar to Christianity. People
celebrate Tromba festivals during the vacation period (July-September)
because at that time people do not work the farms.