Randrana, Taly or braid, this is what the Malagasy call this trendy hairstyle that is all the rage. If for Westerners, this hairstyle is synonymous with summer vacations, or relaxation at the seaside. For Malagasy people, each braid has its meaning. It can determine the ethnic origin of the person.
This hairstyle consists of entwining various strands on the same thread. In general, it is coastal women who sport this kind of hairstyle but from time to time even women from the highlands also wear their hair this way. “Difisesy”, “Randra-madinika” or even “Tana-Ivoho”. Each braid also has its particularity and its meaning such as the marital status of the woman or if she is in mourning.
The BARA braid
The TSIMIJIHIBASY is one of the hairstyle styles of the ethnic group BARA. This looks like a cap leading over the woman’s forehead. It is specific to the region of Isalo and Ihorombe
This hairstyle consists of dividing the hair into two equal parts, rolling the hair into a ball to cover the ears.
Braiding hair is an opportunity for Malagasy women to chat and laugh with each other.
During times of festivity, hairstyles are completely different from those of everyday life in the south of Madagascar and even throughout the entire region of Madagascar.
But the TSIMIJIHIBASY is carried in life daily BARA women from Ihorombe. It can also be worn during local festivities but with face paint as makeup and various kinds of curlers which adorn each person’s hair.
Etymologically, it means “not to be afraid of anything” because in this region dahalo attacks have become very frequent. So the women thought that this hairstyle protects their hearing from the sounds of gunfire.
The Betsileo braid
The way the woman wears her braids also signifies her marital status. Among the Betsileo ethnic group, braids remain a non-verbal language between young people in search of their soul mate.
In ancient custom and even today in certain regions of the Betsileo ethnic group. Braids remain a prerogative of women and men alike.
During festivals or even during the weekly zebu markets, women are braided according to each person’s status. For single women, we can see four types of braids on the heads of girls: the valala mihoatra, kitranal, kirozaroza or lekitain’ondry
Tourist guides from local agencies in Madagascar offer to see these events during tours. Tourist guides from local agencies in Madagascar offer to see these events during tours.
But once they find their fiancé, immediately the hairstyle changes as if to tell the other pretenders that they are already taken.
During the wedding ceremony too, they wear their hair differently in Mitsangana fa andeha where get up, let’s go. Once officially married, Betsileo women adopt “tagna-voho” braids. Some opt for the “ randran madinika ” where the ” tadimbitana »
If the women of this ethnic group are quite elegant, the men do not let themselves go too. The custom is that the man presents himself to the young woman’s family with his hair braided. This hairstyle is called the braid “ Kihefaka » a certain man, especially those descended from royal families, is distinguished by wearing a silver medal called “ ny felana “.