Madagascar's Antemoro: Sorabe and the Island's Muslim Scribes

In this episode of The Story of Madagascar, Lucas and Luna explore the Antemoro people of the southeast coast, who brought literacy to the island with their sorabe script—a form of Arabic adapted to the Malagasy language. From the 15th century onward, Antemoro scribes served as advisors, astrologers, and chroniclers for kings across the highlands and coasts. Lucas recounts the arrival of the Antalaotra traders from the Swahili coast, the founding of the Antemoro kingdom under Ali Ibrahim, and the unique role of the ombiasy (astrologer-priests) who wielded immense influence at the Merina court. The episode also covers the Antemoro's papermaking traditions, their resistance to French colonial rule, and the survival of their manuscripts today as a fragile link to Madagascar's precolonial past. Along the way, Lucas and Luna discuss how the Antemoro preserved genealogies, prophecies, and Islamic influences while maintaining their distinct identity. This is a story of how words—written and spoken—shaped power in Madagascar. #Antemoro #Sorabe #Madagascar #Ombiasy #Antalaotra #SwahiliCoast #IslamicScript #MalagasyHistory #AliIbrahim #Matatana #Farafangana #15thCentury #SoutheastAfrica #OralTradition #Manuscript #EastAfrica #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo