Travel Tips

Hira Gasy is Merina folk music. It's an expression means in a form of music theater.

Hira gasy was introduced by King Andrianampoinimerina, late XVIII century. After succeeding in gathering all Imerina region kingdoms, thus, building the only Merina kingdom, King Andrianampoinimerina tackled challenges so as to nourish the whole population. Tools were given to peasants, markets were settled, he had dykes built so as to fit out
Betsimitatatra ricefields plains.
Thousands of peasants worked there. In order to encourage them and convey royal guidelines, Andrianampoinimerina sent his best Mpikabary (orators), singers and dancers on building sites, roadworks and ricefields. As works lasted, turns were arranged so as to allow villages to send their bands. Those bands went into rivalries and thus, Hira Gasy acquired quality and originality from this frenzy competition.

Each performance left a room for showing one's best compositions and tracks, for enhancing dance techniques. Rules were settled:

* Hira gasy show is lead by a music and lyrics manager. Like an orchestra conductor, he stands in the center of the band.

* Five themes are usually embraced in a Hira gasy show. A theme is made of five steps:

- Sasitehaka is the first step: an introduction with applauds (tehaka), drums, shouts.
Men take place while women prepare themselves: put on make-up, do their hair, put on clothes in bright red, green, voilet shades.. according to the band's choice. Costums that artists wore were inspired from what was worn by Palace people in XIX century, an elegant mix of traditional Malagasy and European styles.

- Kabary , or "speach" is the third step. The "speaker" declares the session open.
He drops his hat, and announces that show is about to begin, invites ladies to enter the stage. Ladies' entry is accompanied by a muted music and a theme introduction within a speach of 5 minutes.

- Renihira is the third step. This is the very basis of Hira gasy. A chosen theme (Indray miditra) is developed here. Most of the time, subjects are agriculture, marriage, trade, friendship, nature, etc. During the development that would last more than an hour, artists, backed by musicians, sing and make gesture interpretations.

- Dihy or dance is the fourth step. The artists (speaker and singers) sit on the ground and let musicians and dancers perform.
A speech "'Kabarindihy" is made to introduce the title, the subject of the song.
As for dance, two kinds:
* "Dihy" that is performed by two dancers, most of time acrobats.
* "Dihy irery" that is performed by a sole male dancer (sometimes with a female dancer). After a 15-minute-dance, a closing speech, "Kabary" is pronounced to introduce the end of performance .

- Zanakira , final step or "Vakodrazana" is an entertainment of twenty minutes before the band leaves the stage.

To have a succesful Hira gasy show, rather have two rival bands (or troops) to perform those oratorial contests and show their knowledge in three entries.
- first entry : "Vakisehatra". Each of two bands introduces their theme.
- second entry: "Sasi-kira". Similar entry as the first one but with stronger and more aggressive themes so as to heaten up competition's ambience.
- third entry: "Vakodrazana". Like in the sole band show, it closes Hira gasy show.

In general, the show may last the whole day (from morning to late night). It serves as a means to arouse society's awareness on given concerns or to give life to sacred ceremonies ("Famadihana" or reburial; circumcision).

Nowadays, Hira gasy shows may be seen in streets of urban Tana. In the past, they used to perform in Avenue de l'Indépendance area and it seems that they still perform there. Avenue de l'indépendance is the main avenue in urban Tana, the very one in front of main train station.

Though it is a particular feature of Merina culture, it is a sought-after performance one in other provinces as well. Troops use to tour during winter (May- October).