Maroantsetra and the Antimaroa in the 19th century

Maroantsetra is a remarkable place of the east coast of Madagascar. It is the district bordering the former province of Toamasina. It is a northern Betsimisaraka territory whose inhabitants are known as "Antimaroa". The Antimaroa form a homogeneous social group in the Antongil Bay area. However, they have had different political and social formations in accordance with their respectful origins (Zafirabay, Malata, ...). However, united in the same territory, Maroantsetra, and known under the same name, Antimaroa, they have built their space together and created their own identity together. The study of the Antimaroa in their space contributes to the development of historical research in Madagascar. Indeed, the Kingdom of Madagascar, a characteristic feature of the Malagasy 19th century, has also marked the history of the coastal populations of the Great Island, notably the Antimaroa. This Merina presence in Maroantsetra is attested by the Royal Archives and by local oral traditions, even if the latter are sometimes fed by different kinds of writings concerning the region.