Map

Leader

Ismael Omar Guelleh, known in Djibouti by his initials, IOG, won a second term in a one-man presidential race in 2005 and a third term in April 2011.

Travel

Visa & travel advice

Djiboutian tourist visa is issued for a limited time of leisure travel and no business activities allowed.

Fully completed visa application form for Djibouti and statutary declaration

Passport size photographs

Valid national passport and one copy

Original of valid visa if you are national of another country and one copy

Your latest bank statement and one copy

Confirmation letter from your travel health insurance stating the coverage and one copy

Reference letter from your employer or education establishment

Proof of group travel/ hotel reservation in Djibouti / airline ticket reservation for Djibouti and one copy

Visa fees for Djiboutian visa

• Best period

The climate in Djibouti, a desert country, remains hot and arid year-round. Temperatures are especially high in the summer months, so we recommend visiting between October and April.

• Safety

Djibouti is generally safe for foreign visitors and enjoys a stable political climate, yet the unstable situations in some of its neighbor states are reminders that tourists must remain cautious. Check the U.S. Department of State’s consular website for travel warnings in Djibouti before planning your trip.

History

 Djibouti is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Somalia to the southeast, Eritrea and the Red Sea to the northwest, Ethiopia to the west and south, and the Gulf of Aden and Yemen to the northeast.

In antiquity, the territory was part of the Land of Punt. The Djibouti area, along with other localities in the Horn region, was later the seat of the medieval Adal and Ifat Sultanates. In the late 19th century, the colony of French Somaliland was established following treaties signed by the ruling Issa Somali and Afar Sultans with the French. It was subsequently renamed to the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas in 1967. A decade later, the Djiboutian people voted for independence, officially marking the establishment of the Republic of Djibouti.

Arts & Culture

• Music:

Djibouti is a multiethnic country. The two largest ethnic groups are the Somali and the Afar. There are also a number of Arab, Ethiopian and European (French and Italian) residents. Traditional Afar music resembles the folk music of other parts of the Horn of Africa such as Ethiopia; it also contains elements of Arabic music. The history of Djibouti is recorded in the poetry and songs of its nomadic people, and goes back thousands of years to a time when the peoples of Djibouti traded hides and skins for the perfumes and spices of ancient Egypt, India and China. Afar oral literature is also quite musical. It comes in many varieties, including songs for weddings, war, praise and boasting.[1]

The national anthem of Djibouti is "Djibouti", adopted in 1977 with words by Aden Elmi and music by Abdi Robleh.

• Literature:

The literature of Djibouti has a longstanding poetic tradition. Several well-developed Somali forms of verse include the gabay, jiifto, geeraar, wiglo, buraanbur, beercade, afarey and guuraw. The gabay (epic poem) has the most complex length and meter, often exceeding 100 lines. It is considered the mark of poetic attainment when a young poet is able to compose such verse, and is considered the height of poetry. Groups of memorizers and reciters (hafidayaal) traditionally propagated the well-developed art form. Poems revolve around several main themes, including baroorodiiq (elegy), amaan (praise), jacayl (romance), guhaadin (diatribe), digasho (gloating) and guubaabo (guidance). The baroorodiiq is composed to commemorate the death of a prominent poet or figure. The Afar are familiar with the ginnili, a kind of warrior-poet and diviner, and have a rich oral tradition of folk stories. They also have an extensive repertoire of battle songs. Additionally, Djibouti has a long tradition of Islamic literature. Among the most prominent such historical works is the medieval Futuh Al-Habash by Shihāb al-Dīn, which chronicles the Adal Sultanate army's conquest of Abyssinia during the 16th century.[3] In recent years, a number of politicians and intellectuals have also penned memoirs or reflections on the country.

• Film industry:

Djibouti has hardly any cinematic history. The only reference of a Djiboutan movie is "Le Grand Moussa" a 1984 feature by Ahmed Dini. Djibouti has been used for location purposes, like in Beau Travail (1998) by the French Clair Denis. This empoverished country has been in civil wars since independence with little hope for anything of a cinematic program in the future. Some references are made to films made by international and African organizations trying to counteract, by showing informational movies, the horrors of female mutilations, which is still practice in this dark part of Africa.

• Famous places:

Surrounded by dormant volcanoes and lava fields, Lake Assal, 100km (60 miles) to the southwest of Djibouti city, is one of the lowest surface areas anywhere on the planet (150m/570 ft below sea level); and is reachable only by 4-wheel drive vehicle. It is possible to windsurf on wheels in the desert areas.

Also worth seeing in Djibouti is the Tropical Aquarium with underwater exhibits from the Red Sea (open daily 1600-1830), and the Presidential Palace.

• Architecture history:

Djibouti has no tradition of urban architecture. The indigenous architecture of earlier centuries is found in the capitals of the sultanates of Raheita and Tadjoura, with their old mosques and town centers. Djibouti City was designed by French town planners with a grid street plan and government institutions placed close to each other in the center. The town grew fast, with new neighborhoods added in a less planned fashion. There is a camel market on the outskirts.

In the urban culture, traditional social and cultural features of the indigenous populations tend to fuse and create new forms. In the countryside, the herders' seasonal migrations and transborder crossings of Afar, Issa, and Gadabursi pastoralists show the mobility and free use of space necessary for the survival of humans and herds. These people have huts and furniture that can be easily packed and moved.

Map

Leader

Isaias Afewerki was elected president of independent Eritrea by the national assembly in 1993. He had been the de facto leader before independence.

Travel

Visa & travel advice

Eritrean tourist visa is granted for a short time of leisure travel and no business activities permitted.

• Fully completed visa application form for Eritrea and required declaration
• Passport size photographs
• Valid national passport and one copy
• Original of valid visa if you are national of another country and one copy
• Your current bank statement and one copy
• Confirmation letter from your travel health insurance stating the coverage and one copy
• Reference letter from your employer or education establishment
• Proof of group travel/ hotel reservation in Eritrea / airline ticket reservation for Eritrea and one copy

Visa fees for Eritrean visa

• Best period:

The hottest month of the year is May, although regional temperatures vary widely. The capital city of Asmara, located on the highest landmass of the African continent, has an average temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit, while the port city of Massawa, on the Red Sea, can reach as high as 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celcius.) The Denakil Depression, on the coast, is the country’s lowest point, at 426.5 feet (130 meters) below sea level, and is considered one of the hottest places on Earth. Try to avoid the two rainy seasons: the first is marked with scattered storms from March through April. The second, wetter rainy season begins in June and extends to September.

• Safety:

All foreign visitors are strongly advised not to travel near the Ethiopian border, owing to previous conflicts. Since 2008, Eritreans have increased a military presence on the border to Djibouti, so you may want to avoid the port of Assab. During the 30-year war with Ethiopia, land mines were ever present, and it is not guaranteed that all land mines near the borders have been removed. If you are near those border areas, you should not walk alone or hike in riverbeds.

History

Eritrea was part of the first Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum until its decline in the 8th century. It came under the control of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, and later of the Egyptians. The Italians captured the coastal areas in 1885, and the Treaty of Uccialli (May 2, 1889) gave Italy sovereignty over part of Eritrea. The Italians named their colony after the Roman name for the Red Sea, Mare Erythraeum, and ruled there until World War II. The British captured Eritrea in 1941 and later administered it as a UN Trust Territory until it became federated with Ethiopia on Sept. 15, 1952. Eritrea was made an Ethiopian province on Nov. 14, 1962. A civil war broke out against the Ethiopian government, led by rebel groups who opposed the union and wanted independence for Eritrea. Fighting continued over the next 32 years.

In 1991, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front deposed the country's hard-line Communist dictator Mengistu. Without Mengistu's troops to battle, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front was able to gain control of Asmara, the Eritrean capital, and form a provisional government. In 1993, a referendum on Eritrean independence was held, supported by the UN and the new Ethiopian government. Eritrean voters almost unanimously opted for an independent republic. Ethiopia recognized Eritrea's sovereignty on May 3, 1993, and sought a new era of cooperation between the two countries.

The cooperation did not last long. Following Eritrea's independence, Eritrea and Ethiopia disagreed about the exact demarcation of their borders, and in May 1998 border clashes broke out. Both impoverished countries spent millions of dollars on warplanes and weapons, about 80,000 people were killed, and refugees were legion. The war essentially ended in a stalemate, and a formal peace agreement was signed in Dec. 2000. In Dec. 2005, an international Court of Arbitration ruled that Eritrea had violated international law when it attacked Ethiopia in 1998.

Arts & Culture

• Music:

Perhaps the most famous Eritrean musicians in history are Engineer Asgedom Woldemichael, Bereket Mengisteab, Yemane Baria, Osman Abderrehim, Alamin Abdeletif and Atowe Birhan Segid, some of whose music was banned by the Ethiopian government in the 1970s. Also of note is Bereket Mengistab, who has had a lengthy career, and 60s legends Haile Ghebru and Tewolde Redda. The latter was one of the first electric guitar players in the Horn region, a singer, and reportedly a writer of the famous Eritrean independence song "Shigey habuni", with an allegedly coded political love theme.

Eritrean music is distinguished by its unique rhythm. Modern popular stars include Bereket Mengistab, Teklé Tesfa-Ezighe Tekele Kifle Mariam (Wedi Tukul), Tesfai Mehari (Fihira), Osman Abderrehim, Abrar Osman, Abraham Afwerki, Yemane Ghebremichael, Idris Mohamed Ali, Alamin Abdeletif, Tsehaytu Beraki, Atewebrhan Segid and Berekhet Mengisteab.

Traditional instruments include the stringed kraar, kebero, lyre, kobar and the wata (a distant/rudimentary cousin of the violin).

• Literature:

Eritrean literature in the Tigrinya language dates, as far as is known, from the late 19th century. It was initially encouraged by European missionaries, but suffered from the general repression of Eritrean culture under Fascist rule in the 1920s and 30s. The earliest published works were primarily translations or collections of traditional poems, fables and folktales, but the renaissance of Eritrean culture promoted by the British administrators after 1942 included the appearance of the first novels in Tigrinya.

• Film industry:

Eritrea has been in war struggles all through it's existence. Up until the present day border conflicts with mainly Ethiopia have marked the political and social structure for many decades. In Asmara several cinema's were established during the interbellum, mainly showing Italian, American and Indian features. Despite these almost ancient buildings, suggesting a long cinematic involvement, hardly any cinematographic information is available about this period. Only in recent years Eritrean filmmakers have reached beyond the language borders of their homeland. The first full feature 35 mm film still has yet to be produced in this poor country. Video production, however, has inreased in recent years. Sponsored by Western Eritrean communities, the "Eritrean Video Services" production company produced "Minister" in 2002 directed by Temesghen Zehaie Abraha. This feature is one of the very first local films screened overseas and actually having a website. Another international event in 2002 was the granting of a 70.000 dollar award to local filmmaker Filmon Mebrahtu to produce "The Survivors", a one-hour documentary shwoing the lives of refugees in Western society.

In Eritrea the state funded Audiovisual Institute of Eritrea (AVIE) has produced countless video's subjecting governmental, educational and also independent issues. Madhu Eravankara directed the internationally acclaimed documentary films like 'Asmara', 'The City of Dreams' and 'The Victims of Silence'. Other productions meeting the internatnional spotlights are Adde, at the Eritrea Festival 1999; Ts'n'at, at the 5th Film Festival 2000 (for best picture and directing); and M'qur Merzi, at the Eritrea Festival 2000. The AVIE is currently working to establish a filmstudio to produce 35 mm films. Local cinema is promoted at the annual cultural Eritrea festival, held concurrently in several countries all over the world featuring the latest in video production. Eritrean cinema shows a promising increase in production in recent years and is slowly emerging internationally. The local filmmakers with their modest film industrial means might, in the near future, surprise us all.

• Famous places:

The Massawa Islands include the two islands of Taulud and Massawa as well as another main island, which houses several residential buildings. These islands are popular tourists attractions in Eritrea, the uniquely designed buildings being the focus of all attractions. The buildings either belong to the Ottoman style architecture or the coral block buildings. Significantly, coral used to be a major material for building houses.

The national parks of Eritrea are some of the best places for indulging in the natural beauty of Africa. The Dahlak Marine National Park and the Semenawi Bahri National Park are the two declared national parks and this apart there three reserved forest areas in Eritrea. These are Yob, Gash-Setit and the Nafka. The flora and fauna in the reserve forests of Eritrea are worth the journey but certain formalities need to be observed.

• Architecture history:

The architecture of Eritrean towns reflects the nation's colonial past and the shifting influence of foreign powers. The Italian population in the country called Asmara "Little Rome." The city boasts wide avenues, cafés and pastries, and a host of Italian restaurants. The port of Massawa, on the other hand, is influenced by the Ottoman period, the Egyptian presence, and the long tradition of trade with far-off countries and ports. In the countryside, traditional building customs are still upheld. In the highlands, small stone houses ( hidmo ) with roofs made of branches and rocks dominate. The house is separated into two areas, a kitchen section in the back and a public room in the front that is also used as sleeping quarters. The various lowland groups employ several housing styles, from tentlike structures ( agnet ) among the pastoral nomadic groups, to more permanent straw or stone/mud huts among the sedentary groups.

Map

Leader

Hailemariam Desalegn was sworn in as prime minister of Ethiopia in September 2012, ending a period of uncertainty following the death of long-term leader Meles Zenawi.

Travel

Visa & travel advice

Visitors to Ethiopia require visas. The only exceptions are nationals from Djibouti and Kenya and travellers who arrive in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to catch a connecting flight.

• Best period:

Ethiopia is a sun-filled country. Although the highlands, including the tourist-friendly historic circuit, receive rain from March to September, most days still enjoy a considerable amount of sunshine. A great time to go is right after October: at that time, just after the rainy season, Ethiopia is lush, green, dotted with wildflowers, and less traveled than in other parts of the dry season. If you plan on visiting the tribes of the Lower Omo Valley, try not to go in April, May, or October, when rain makes roads in this area nearly impassable.

• Safety:

Ethiopia is a relatively stable country, but it’s best to use your good judgment in any travel situation. Make sure to do your research, and be sure to exercise heightened caution especially when traveling to any remote area of the country, including borders near Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, and Sudan. The U.S. Department of State’s website on Ethiopia is a great place to check for any rare advisories.

History

Archeologists have found the oldest known human ancestors in Ethiopia, including Ardipithecus ramidus kadabba (c. 5.8–5.2 million years old) and Australopithecus anamensis (c. 4.2 million years old). Originally called Abyssinia, Ethiopia is sub-Saharan Africa's oldest state, and its Solomonic dynasty claims descent from King Menelik I, traditionally believed to have been the son of the queen of Sheba and King Solomon. The current nation is a consolidation of smaller kingdoms that owed feudal allegiance to the Ethiopian emperor.

Hamitic peoples migrated to Ethiopia from Asia Minor in prehistoric times. Semitic traders from Arabia penetrated the region in the 7th century B.C. Its Red Sea ports were important to the Roman and Byzantine Empires. Coptic Christianity was brought to the region in A.D. 341, and a variant of it became Ethiopia's state religion. Ancient Ethiopia reached its peak in the 5th century, then was isolated by the rise of Islam and weakened by feudal wars.

Modern Ethiopia emerged under Emperor Menelik II, who established its independence by routing an Italian invasion in 1896. He expanded Ethiopia by conquest. Disorders that followed Menelik's death brought his daughter to the throne in 1917, with his cousin, Tafari Makonnen, as regent and heir apparent. When the empress died in 1930, Tafari was crowned Emperor Haile Selassie I.

Haile Selassie, called the “Lion of Judah,” outlawed slavery and tried to centralize his scattered realm, in which 70 languages were spoken. In 1931, he created a constitution, revised in 1955, that called for a parliament with an appointed senate, an elected chamber of deputies, and a system of courts. But basic power remained with the emperor.

Fascist Italy invaded Ethiopia on Oct. 3, 1935, forcing Haile Selassie into exile in May 1936. Ethiopia was annexed to Eritrea, then an Italian colony, and to Italian Somaliland, forming Italian East Africa. In 1941, British troops routed the Italians, and Haile Selassie returned to Addis Ababa. In 1952, Eritrea was incorporated into Ethiopia.

Arts & Culture

• Music:

The music of Ethiopia is extremely diverse, with each of Ethiopia's ethnic groups being associated with unique sounds. Some forms of traditional music are strongly influenced by folk music from elsewhere in the Horn of Africa. However, Ethiopian religious music also has an ancient Christian element, traced to Yared, who lived during the reign of Gabra Masqal. In northeastern Ethiopia, in Wollo, a Muslim musical form called manzuma developed. Sung in Amharic, manzuma has spread to Harar and Jimma, where it is now sung in the Oromo language. In the Ethiopian Highlands, traditional secular music is played by mostly itinerant musicians called azmaris, who are regarded with both suspicion and respect in Ethiopian society.

• Literature:

Ethiopian literature, writings either in classical Geʿez (Ethiopic) or in Amharic, the principal modern language of Ethiopia. The earliest extant literary works in Geʿez are translations of Christian religious writings from Greek, which may have influenced their style and syntax. From the 7th century to the 13th, a period marked by political disturbances, there was no new literary activity; but, with the proclamation of the new Solomonid dynasty in Ethiopia in 1270, there began the most productive era of Geʿez literature, again characterized by translation, not from Greek but from Arabic, though the originals were frequently Coptic, Syriac, or Greek. The subject matter was mostly theological or strongly flavoured by religious considerations. The most interesting work of this period was the 14th-century Kebra Negast (“Glory of the Kings”), a combination of mythical history, allegory, and apocalypse, the central theme of which is the visit of the Queen of Sheba (Makeda) to Solomon and the birth of a son, Menilek, who became the legendary founder of the Ethiopian dynasty.

• Film industry:

Ethiopia has only in recent years made some impression in the film festival circuit. Througout the country films are very popular despite the fact former president Mengistu tried to nationalize or the existing commerical cinema's in to People's Cinema with extreme censorship in place. Before his ruling (1974-1991) no information is available about the cinematic history. During the Haile Selassie ruling a filmmaker managed to shoot footage about the poverty and starvation of the Ethiopians and all Western TV's showed these shocking images. Soon afterwards the rebel Mengistu, supported by this sudden growth in sympathy, took control and turned out to be one of the most malignent dictators in Africa. Under his rule the film industry became extinct. In the last 10 years Ethiopian cinema has made tremendeous progress. Haile Gerimaa is without a doubt the most acclaimed Ethiopian director. Toady working as professor in the USA, he made his first film Harvest - 3000 years already in 1976. Since than he directed several other films. He is Ethiopia's most proficient director and exporter, who has made seven films including Sankofa (1993) and Imperfect Journey (1994).

At the Zanzibar Film Festival 2001, the short film The Father directed by Ermias Woldeamlak won the Silver Dhow. Although there is some video production, there are currently no film making schools or organisations to encourage film production. Cinema is popular in Ethiopia, and films from Europe, the US, Africa and India are screened.

• Famous places:

Lalibela is a town in northern Ethiopia, known for its monolithic churches. Lalibela is one of Ethiopia's holiest cities, second only to Aksum, and is a center of pilgrimage for much of the country. Unlike Aksum, the population of Lalibela is almost completely Ethiopian Orthodox Christian.

Ethiopia is a complete package in Eastern Africa away the coast and has many famous and extensively amazing cities under its territory. There are many enjoyable cities but the most exciting city here is Addis Ababa which is renowned for its heritage, vibrant lifestyle, mouthwatering food and versatile markets.

• Architecture history:

Traditional houses are round dwellings with cylindrical walls made of wattle and daub. The roofs are conical and made of thatch, and the center pole has sacred significance in most ethnic groups, including the Oromo, Gurage, Amhara, and Tigreans. Variations on this design occur. In the town of Lalibella the walls of many houses are made of stone and are two-storied, while in parts of Tigre, houses are traditionally rectangular.

In more urban areas, a mixture of tradition and modernity is reflected in the architecture. The thatched roofs often are replaced with tin or steel roofing. The wealthier suburbs of Addis Ababa have multistory residences made of concrete and tile that are very western in form. Addis Ababa, which became the capital in 1887, has a variety of architectural styles. The city was not planned, resulting in a mixture of housing styles. Communities of wattle-and-daub tin-roofed houses often lie next to neighborhoods of one- and two-story gated concrete buildings.

Many churches and monasteries in the northern region are carved out of solid rock, including the twelve rock-hewn monolithic churches of Lalibela. The town is named after the thirteenth-century king who supervised its construction. The construction of the churches is shrouded in mystery, and several are over thirty-five feet high. The most famous, Beta Giorgis, is carved in the shape of a cross. Each church is unique in shape and size. The churches are not solely remnants of the past but are an active eight-hundred-year-old Christian sanctuary.

Map

Leader

Hery Rajaonarimampianina was chosen as president in January 2014 in an election.

Travel

Visa & travel advice

All foreign visitors to the Republic of Madagascar require entry visas. For short visits (90 days or less), every visitor, regardless of nationality, can obtain a visa upon arrival at the airport in Antananarivo, provided the visitor's passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the last day of the intended stay in Madagascar, and provided the visitor carries an airline-issued ticket or passenger receipt confirming the visitor's intention to leave Madagascar within 90 days.

• Best period:

The best time to visit Madagascar is in late spring (April through May) and early autumn (September through October).

• Safety:

The U.S. Department of State has described Madagascar as “by and large, safer than many other African countries and even certain U.S. cities.”

History

The Malagasy are of mixed Malayo-Indonesian and African-Arab ancestry. Indonesians are believed to have migrated to the island about 700. King Andrianampoinimerina (1787–1810) ruled the major kingdom on the island, and his son, Radama I (1810–1828), unified much of the island. The French made the island a protectorate in 1885, and then, in 1894–1895, ended the monarchy, exiling Queen Rànavàlona III to Algiers. A colonial administration was set up, to which the Comoro Islands were attached in 1908, and other territories later. In World War II, the British occupied Madagascar, which retained ties to Vichy France.

Arts & Culture

• Music:

Malagasy music can be roughly divided into three categories: traditional, contemporary and popular music. Traditional musical styles vary by region and reflect local ethnographic history. For instance, in the Highlands, the valiha and more subdued vocal styles are emblematic of the Merina, the predominantly Austronesian ethnic group that has inhabited the area since at least the 15th century, whereas among the southern Bara people, who trace their ancestry back to the African mainland, their a cappella vocal traditions bear close resemblance to the polyharmonic singing style common to South Africa.[3] Foreign instruments such as the acoustic guitar and piano have been adapted locally to create uniquely Malagasy forms of music. Contemporary Malagasy musical styles such as the salegy or tsapika have evolved from traditional styles modernized by the incorporation of electric guitar, bass, drums and synthesizer. Many Western styles of popular music, including rock, gospel, jazz, reggae, hip-hop and folk rock, have also gained in popularity in Madagascar over the later half of the 20th century.

• Literature:

There are only a few writers from Madagascar that have published novels. Moreover, all of these novels are written only in Malagasy or French. The following is a list of the authors names: Charlotte Rafenomanjato, Michele Rakotoson, Rabeavielo, and Rakotoson.  Fortunately, there are many short stories, poems, and plays that have been translated. Further, many other writers from counties such as the United States and France have traveled to Madagascar, lived on the island, and have written fiction novels.

When researching Madagascar literature, it is important to learn that while many 21st century non-fiction books suggest the island is an "African island," the people of Malagasy people do not draw their cultural influences from Africa. In fact, I have discovered that many Malagasy people do not like being grouped in with the continent of Africa and they wish their country could be its own continent.

Madagascar literature is rich with the elements of daily life. As well, the island is filled with animals and flora and the literature attempts to  truly emphasizes the Malagasy people's love for animals and plants.

• Film industry:

Cinema was introduced to Madagascar early in the twentieth century to the happy (priveleged) few. In these days the French being the occupants, showed the same reels as in Europe. The French colonial goverment controlled the only cinema on the island, the municipal theatre of Antananarivo. In following years more screening rooms openend and with an increasing audience mostly Italian contractors distributed the movies. In 1930, the cinema was known and available in many areas of the island. The local production was limited to the amateur films of Catholic missionaries showing images of their religous or scientific trips.

In 1938 the first professional films were produced aiming to educate the illiterate locals. In 1947 Philippe Raberojo directed the documentary "Rasalama Maritiora", about a famous Malagasy Protestant martyr. This film is regarded the first locally produced film with shwoing the cutlure of Madagascar.

Only in 1950 the next two locally produced fiction films, "Itoeram-bolafotsy" and "La Bigorne", (but processed in France) were shot. During the sixties, after idependence, cinema was highy influenced by the African mainland. The only official institue at the time, the office of Educational Film and Culture tried to stimulate the realization of films with a national or at least African identity. ater the (socialist) political turmoil in 1972, the Malagasy screens showed mostly Italian westerns spaghettis or films of the Eastern European countries. During this period (lasting until 1985) some local films, dealing with political, cultural and social problems emerged; The Accident (1972) is the first medium-length fiction film by Benoit Ramampy - The Return (1973) is first Malagasy full-length film by Ignace Randrasana Solo and "Asakasaka" by Justin Limby Maharavo. Tabataba, a full-length film by Raymond Rajaonarivelo, was presented in 1988 at Carthage and Cannes. Between 1975 and 1990 cinema was fully State controlled, allthough no formal film industry existed. Coproductions with other countries were encouraged, but the censorship and influence of the government discouraged many potential investors.

Most local filmmakers in the seventies were employed by the TV networks, Tsilavina Ralaindimby, Naivo Rahamefy, Lucien Rajaona and Victor Raharijaona all made State guarded TV screenings. Non local filmmakers were merely attracted to the landscapes of the island than the potential of local filmmakers. At the end of the eighties many animal documentaries were filmed by Japanese (NHK), and British channels.

• Famous places:

The Avenue of the Baobabs is a group of trees lining the dirt road between Morondava and Belon’i Tsiribihina in western Madagascar. Its striking landscape draws tourists from around the world, making it one of the most visited locations in the region. The Baobab trees, up to 800 years old, did not originally tower in isolation over the landscape but stood in a dense tropical forest. Over the years, the forests were cleared for agriculture, leaving only the famous baobab trees.

Considered one of the country’s most sacred spots by the Malagasy people for 500 years, the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga is a historical village that was once home to Madagascar royalty. The wall that surrounds the village was made in 1847 and was constructed with a mortar made of lime and egg whites. The Mahandrihono compound includes the former home of King Andrianampoinimerina, with walls made of solid rosewood, and artifacts of the island’s great king, including drums, weapons and talismans.

Situated in the northeast Madagascar, the Masoala National Park covers nearly 250 miles of rainforest and includes three marine parks as well.

• Architecture history:

There are several distinct styles of architecture. A vast majority of government buildings in the capital and regional urban centers were built during the colonial period showing a French influence. However, there are two distinct traditional architectural styles evident in the country. The style of homes built on the high plateau differs markedly from homes found elsewhere due to a heavy reliance on local materials. Homes on the high plateau tend to be multistoried and are constructed of mud bricks that are plastered with a hard drying mud coat that is then painted. Verandas are often made of elaborate scrolled woodwork. The countryside in this region has homes enclosed by ancient mud walls and newly constructed brick walls. Homes in coastal regions are often built on a raised platform in areas with high rainfall and on the ground in drier areas. These homes tend to be much smaller with one or two rooms and are made of bamboo-like materials. The type of materials used signifies a past or present economic status. In most cases, manmade materials such as corrugated metal or cement are more desirable than natural materials as they last longer and signify greater prestige.