Ambohijanahary weeps to flood Iarivo! Mahamasina grieves to submerge Ambohijanahary! Such is the old saying. Mahamasina lies in the western lowlands of Antananarivo. But what if it is not Ambohijanahary that will be flooded by Mahamasina, but rather Ankaratra that seeks to inundate Antananarivo? From there, Antananarivo or some other city blessed with water, did Jean Narivony leave us these words and songs: "That Ankaratra there, that Ankaratra there, That Ankaratra there, that Ankaratra there, O that Ankaratra there"?
In 1869, Queen Ranavalona II and Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony were baptized as Protestants. Coming from the east, the bell tower of the Fiangonana Tranovato Anatirova (1880) stands out, and the bell tower of Fiangonana Ambohitantely (1872) rises somewhat distant. Sometimes, hidden within the city are the gates of Manjakamiadana (built in stone in 1875) and the gate of Andafiavaratra (1872), still visible. The "Lycée Gallieni" (Condorcet, 1908) also stands out, a foreign spirit erected at Andohalo and designed to "blind the eyes".
Imerina, Imerina, Imerina. Distant horizons, visible surroundings. Hills, highlands, valleys, rice fields, marshes. The city is the dwelling place. The highlands and valleys for cultivation. The rice fields already rice fields. The marshes, long stretches of water.
In 1897, General Gallieni had Colonel Roques study the Toamasina railway. Work began in 1901 at Brickaville, and by 1909, under Victor Augagneur, the railway reached Soanierana, with the Soarano station completed in 1910. Water, canals, and marshes were entirely prepared before and after. The "Plan Geo Cassaigne" (1922) opened Analakely and Tsaralalana within canals that recall their watery nature throughout the year. The "Plan Dorian and Razafy-Andriamihaingo" (1954) also played a role, creating "Cité Ampefiloha" and "67 hectares" in the low area offering the course of Andriantany river, itself lower than the Ikopa waters.
That is Analamangako, O Iarivo, O Imerina.
Written by Nasolo-Valiavo Andriamihaja