Madagascar's Tromba: Possession, Power and the Ancestors

This episode dives into the tromba spirit possession ceremonies of Madagascar—a practice that has connected the living with royal ancestors for centuries. Lucas and Luna explore how the Sakalava and other ethnic groups use tromba to channel the spirits of dead kings and queens, shaping political authority, healing rituals, and cultural identity. They discuss the role of mediums, the dady royal relics, and how French colonial authorities both suppressed and co-opted these traditions. The conversation also touches on the Merina adoption of tromba and its survival in modern Madagascar. Specific figures like Andriamisara and King Tsimiaro I of the Antankarana are referenced, along with the sacred tromba of the Sakalava kingdom. Listeners will learn how possession is not just religious ecstasy but a living archive of Malagasy history and resistance. #Madagascar #Tromba #SpiritPossession #Sakalava #Antankarana #Merina #Andriamisara #TsimiaroI #Dady #AncestorWorship #ColonialResistance #MalagasyCulture #EastAfrica #Afro-Indigenous #Ethnography #OralTradition #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo