Open Letter To Tourists: Explaining the Word Vazaha (Malagasy Word for Foreigner)

(Note: When you come to Madagascar, it is common for children and
people around you to say "vazaha" when you walk by. You will hear
this word many times every day. Typically, foreigners take this word
to be derogatory. This letter explains the Malagasy perspective.)

Dear Vazaha,

This word is not as bad as you might think it is. It is neither an
impolite one nor a pejorative one. Usually foreign people are called
"vazaha" in Madagascar because of their white skin and it happens that
even local people get the same appellation. So please don't feel
rejected because of this word.

To be white means a lot for Malagasy people. It might mean rich,
powerful, smart, intelligent or beautiful. To illustrate that,
remember when you went into town in Madagascar, you might have noticed
that most Malagasy girls try to look more "Western" than African:
their hair turned from curly to straight, their skin with quite a lot
of cream to be more clear and also western clothes. So don't think
that Malagasy people hate white people—they just want to be like you.

Some vazaha, like you, my dear friend, don't really understand the
cultural values of term Malagasy term towards the foreigners. So, now
let me tell you something in particular about the Northern part of our
island and then you might understand that to be called vazaha is far
from what you think. The ethnic "Merina" (from the center of
Madagascar) are called "Borizany" which is very pejorative and the
Indian people are called "Karana" which is also pejorative. The
Merina have a bad history toward the people in the coast because of
the historical even when the Kind Radama 1 wanted to overpower the
entire island which cost the life of many people. The Indian people,
for their part, used to neglect Malagasy people and treat them almost
like slaves. But for the Arabic people who married with our women and
lived among us—to be called Arab is not a way fo race discrimination
it is just a way of being more specific about the person you are
talking about. So being called "vazaha" has nothing to deal with
hatred because you bring money to our country, you bring jobs and you
agree to mix with us.

My dear friend vazaha, next time you come to Madagacar and hopefully
to Diego, don't get upset when people call you vazaha. But if you
really want to be sure that it is not a bad word, just call them back
"vazaha" and I am 100% sure they will be happy to be called vazaha.

Take care! Vazaha!

Hishaam (lwahcool2006@live.fr)

Open Letter To Tourists: Losing Malagasy Culture Due To Tourism (Perspective Two)

Dear Tourists,

My name is Asmela and I am from Diego, Madagascar. I am studying at
the university now emphasizing in International Tourism.

I know that you come to Madagascar to share your culture. You share
your culture when you come to Madagascar such as your music, clothes,
style of life (drinking alcohol, going to the pugs at night) and
language.

These actions may decrease how much we value our culture for several
reasons. First, most of the young people in Diego don't know how to
speak fluently in their original language (Malagasy) because they
always mix it with your language. Second, more and more men are
drinking because they are imitating your way of drinking. However,
they do not know how to manage their alcohol.

Also, many young girls become prostitutes by wearing mini-skirts to
attract the attention of a certain number of men. The big problem
with this is that the girls leave school to do this. The girls are
wearing mini-skirts to copy Western dress.
Finally, most of the young singers in Diego forget the traditional
songs and rhythms such as "Salegy" and "Vako-Drazana".

So, I would suggest that you are careful when you share and present
your culture if you come to Madagascar one day. Because if not, our
culture will become Westernized because of the actions you take while
you visit Madagascar.

Sincerely Yours,

Asmela

Open Letter To Tourists: Losing Malagasy Culture Due To Tourism

Dear Tourist,

Each of you who comes to Madagascar does not respect the Malagasy
culture rather you value your own culture. Someimtes you make
Malagasy people lose their culture because some Malagasy people prefer
to follow your culture. This fact leads Malagasy people into a
situation of confluict because some people are convinced to follow
your culture while other people keep holding onto Malagasy culture and
giving value to Malagasy culture. The difference of opinion towards
culture often causes a dispute between Malagasy people.

Thinking about that undesirable problem, I would like to give you the
following suggestions:

First, please do not teach Malagasy people things that are bad for
them. For example, sexual tourism and homosexuality. Since the
arrival of tourism in Madagascar many things are changing especially
the cultural point of view towards things. Many people, mostly young,
are victims and tend to raise revolution against their parents. They
think whatever tourists are doing is good and should be applied to
Madagascar and that is why they practice it.

Second, Malagasy people give value to their ancestors while tourists
tend to underestimate their ancestors. Tourists sometimes try to
convince people against valuing their ancestors by talking negatively
about it. Some people abandon it and practice culture from
abroad—cultures that are not part of Madagascar. We are in trouble if
we stop our beliefs in our ancestors because we believe that they can
help us whenever we are in need. That is why I would advise you to
not interfere in this part of our culture.

Third, even though you have different kinds of music you should not
put down Malagasy people for the music they create. The rock music
influences people, mostly young people, and makes us forget our
salegy, hira gasy and trotrobe (kinds of Malagasy music). We feel
deprived of our identity without this music.
These are some reasons we are losing our culture. So please do not
rise against our culture even if you do not want to follow it.

Yours truly,

Anthonio

Open Letter To Tourists: Abusive Malagasy/Foreigner Marriages

Dear Tourists,

I'm one young Malagasy person who feels that the existence of old
foreigner men coming to Madagascar to marry young Malagasy women is
destroying our minds and underestimating our worth. Especially very
old French men. They are used to dominating Malagasy people as they
did during the colonial days and because they have money. In some
cases, but of course not in all cases, they treat these girls badly
when they bring them to France. Sometimes they do sadist or illegal
things. Things that a French woman would never accept but a Malagasy
woman does out of poverty. These women do not have money to return
back or to hope for justice because they depend on the man. Human
beings are equal and you do not have the right to treat women in this
way for any reason. Having money does not mean that you can do
whatever you want. If Malagasy people did the same thing to you,
would you accept it? I don't think so.

If a Malagasy girl married you—she is expecting a better life and not
bad treatment. Yes, I recognize that they love you because of your
money but they will make an effort to make your relationship work.
You are not a young man anymore and you should thank them to accept
being with you with all of their beauty and youth. They choose to
leave their family and their life as a young person to follow you.

To the Malagasy woman, also, I suggest please do not be blind for
money. Think a lot before you accept to marry someone. Going abroad,
marrying a vazaha (foreigner) is not the only way to be rich and have
success even if you feel it is. Use your mind and your talent. I
know every person has the choice to do what they want. And if you
think it is good for you—do it—just be careful.

Yours,

Sunia

Open Letter To Tourists: Sexual Tourists

Dear Tourists,

Hi, my name is Julda. I am from the country of Madagascar. I wrote
this letter for all of you because sexual tourism has become well
known in Madagascar—especially in Diego Suarez which is my town. You
are the tourists but you have made something bad with us and in our
country and it may change our reputation in the future. I am against
sexual tourism and I will illustrate why.

First of all, some of you come to Madagascar with the purpose of
relaxing and escaping your problems. This is no problem at all. This
is good. But a few of you come here just to have sex with us. As a
Malagasy woman I did not accept this path because it would have
destroyed my future and also harmed my culture. Some of the victims
of sexual tourism are young girls ages 10-18. In addition, you have
sex with them without protection. As a result, the number of diseases
has increased more and more—such as AIDS and syphilis. If nothing
else, you should use a condom.

Second, I want you to understand the perspective of the prostitute.
She did not refuse to have sex with you because she wns money and she
also wants to marry you. In this case, you should not take advantage
of her weakness. Think about her situation and if you were in her
place—what would you do? We are humans—do not treat these women and
girls as animals. Every person is the same. We are not machines.
Recently, most of the girls who become prostitutes (ages 12-18)
neglect their studies and leave them. They become a prostitute and
only have Vazaha (foreigner) to share their lives.

Third, sexual tourism gives a bad reputation to the Malagasy people.
It may destroy our people and our customs. When other tourists hear
that Madagascar has many prostitutes—they don't want to come here. So
you have to change your mentality before you come here. When you
come, please, be seriously and give us the love and respect we
deserve.

To end my letter, I thank you for listening and I think you will
follow my instruction.

Julda

Open Letter To Tourists: Buying Sex From Minors

Dear Tourist,

Hello! I am Narcia and I study at the university. I am very pleased
to write this letter for you. I am a young woman and as such I do not
accept that some tourists have sex with Malagasy women who are minors
(under 18).

First of all, thank you for visiting Madagascar but please do not
profit that Malagasy people are poor. I know that you have money to
buy sex from a minor. As an old man, with a minor, do you know what
the consequence is? These girls are not mature for sex—they only want
money from you. So be careful.

In addition, I know that you love the Malagasy young girl—but please
do not be selfish. Think about her future. You can see that someone
is a minor and please do not consider sex with them.

Finally, please and please again, do not profit from Malagasy minors
sexually. If you want to have sex I invite you to consider a Malagasy
women who is above the age of 18. If you do not like then stop having
sex in Madagascar.

Yours Sincerely,

Narcia

Open Letter To Tourists: Improving Language and Cultural Awareness

Dear Tourists,

My name is Colombe, I'm 22, live in Diego and study at the university
in the English Department as a third year student. So I want to write
an open letter to you about the great advantages tourism cause in the
education of Madagascar—particularly in a tourist down such as Diego.

First of all, thank you for coming to Madagascar. We are very happy
that you are visiting Madagascar for many reasons. You present to us
a big opportunity regarding education. Because of you the education
in Madagascar has increased.

Currently, Malagasy people are interested in studying different
languages and the number o language courses are increasing in number.
For example in Diego there are: VEC, CREATA, ALLIANCE, FRANCAISE.
Especially in Tananarive you can find many kinds of language schools
such as CNELA and ELI. Those schools teach many kinds of people
different languages. For example, Italian, English, French, Spanish
and Arabic. To know those languages helps people find jobs and learn
more about people. Learning languages makes communication possible
with foreigners.

Thanks to you, teenagers are interested in learning different
languages even if it is not in their schedule—students in physics are
still learning languages. People often say that they want to speak
different languages. Some tourists also teach Malagasy people about
their culture. Knowledge about cultures is of strong importance
because nowadays the world is globalized—so understanding cultures
between foreigners and Malagasy people improves the overall knowledge
of Malagasy people.

In conclusion, Malagasy people benefits greatly because of the
tourist. The education has increased; many people prefer to learn
different languages. Tourism makes improvement in Malagasy people's
lives also about culture.

Yours with love,

Colombe