Madagascar - Island of Nosy Ankao
"The largest of five islands in the archipelago, Nosy Ankao has an interesting history. A transient location for seasonal fisherman, the one small village lost its entire population (of around 10) after they ate turtle meat which was poisoned by seasonal algea. In the 1990's the island was used by 'pirates' as a way to avoid police control on the roads between the Sava and Diana regions of northern Madagascar"
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Names of places on Nosy
Ankao, and what they mean:
Narrated by Papa Silence, Documented by Clinton Drake
Photo Credits: Clinton Drake
Nosy Ankao
“Island of Casuarina Trees” – Filao
(Filaho) and Ankao both mean Casuarina Tree in Malagasy.
It is said that when the island first took
its name, there was no where else in this region with as many Casuarina trees
as here, even though it’s a small island.
Ambanifilaho
“Under
Casuarina”
Supposedly, the
first people to settle on this island came from here. There was no island here
in the past, only a rock. But the people saw it getting bigger and bigger and
eventually decided to visit. They brought with them any seeds they could find
from the mainland and planted them here. That is why the vegetation/forest is
the same on Nosy Ankoa as it is in Ambanifilaho.
Andasibe
“Big Camp”
People from all
over the country decided to settle on Nosy Ankao, and this area was set aside
for them, a camp for all people, everyone can meet and live here.
It was a
traditional fishing village before the days of the Ibis seaweed farm.
Antafondro
“the sound of a
canon”
From the South
House to the southern point of the island, there are special rocks and caves.
When the seas are big, and the waves crash into the rocks, it makes the sound
of canon fire… “a loud boom”.
This sound acts
as warning to fisherman, that the seas are high and they should stay at home.
Ampasimangidy
“Itchy sand”
When digging in
the sands in and around Ampasimangy for tubers, the first inhabitants noticed
they would get itchy. Up to a kilometre into the forest this would occur, but
no where else on the island. They still to this day do not know what causes
this.
Anala
Bozaka
“Forest of
Grass”
There was a
large forest of grass in this area (Elephant grass), which the locals used to
build their houses, instead of the “makut” they use today.
Andrangana
“Spikey”
This area was
not a bay when they named it. It was normal coastline. Heavy erosion from the
seas started to occur, leaving petrified trees in the sea. The trees all had
“spikey” branches and so hence the name “spikey”
(another
anecdote was that the first bar on the island was placed here, and everyone who
left it looked “spikey”)
Erosion in
various parts of the island has been occurring since before the Silence family
was here.
Nosy
Benoit
“Benoit’s
Island”
There was man
named Benoit, who did not know how to catch fish with nets. So everyday he
would go to this little island and fish with line. He did this for decades and
the people would see him fishing from there, every single day. Eventually they
told him that it was his island, because he frequented it so often.
He was
apparently very successful as a fisherman because the area was extremely rich and
abundant in sea life.
Nosy
Satrana
“Island of the
Dwarf Fan Palm”
This island was
covered in these palms when the island was named. Nothing else grew here except
for the Dwarf Fan Palm. Now there is not a single one left.
the dwarf fan palm, the fruit of which is used by the
Sakalava in the manufacture of rhum, and the leaves in the manufacture of mats
and baskets; also used for the walls and roofs of houses. The root or part of
it is used as an evil charm. Perhaps a species of Hyphaene [Richardson 1885
For Accommodation on Nosy Ankao visit:
www.timeandtideafrica.com
Chef Clinton Drake now runs his own restaurant in Robertson, Western Cape South Africa,
Ragazzi at Beuld Robertson
