The Malagasy Sakalava Tromba: Royal Spirits and Spirit Possession

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Sakalava tradition of tromba spirit possession, where living mediums are mounted by the spirits of dead Sakalava royalty. They trace how this practice, central to Sakalava identity, survived the Merina conquest and French colonial rule, evolving from a court ritual into a widespread healing cult. The hosts discuss the role of tromba in preserving Sakalava history without written records, the controversial 'tromba trance tourism' of the 20th century, and how mediums are initiated and recognized. They also touch on the relationship between tromba and the Sakalava kingdom of Menabe, and the persistence of the practice in Madagascar today, where it blends with Christianity. Listeners will learn about specific royal spirits like Andriandahifotsy and Ndramisara, and how tromba possession differs from other Malagasy spirit traditions. #Tromba #Sakalava #SpiritPossession #Madagascar #Menabe #Andriandahifotsy #Ndramisara #Merina #FrenchColonialism #MalagasyCulture #Healing #RoyalSpirits #EastAfrica #History #FexingoHistory #Tradition #Trance #AncestorWorship Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo