From September 14 to 18, Morondava will welcome the national celebration of Taombavao Lohataona, centered on identity, fihavanana, and national unity. Morondava will become, for five days, a true meeting point for Malagasy cultures and traditions. Tangalamena Zakariasy Patrick, president of the Taombavao Lohataona 2026 organizing committee, officially announced the holding of the national celebration in Morondava, in the Menabe region.
The festivities will run from September 14 to 18. The first day will be marked by a grand parade, or cultural carnival, bringing together different ethnic groups, with an arrival planned on the beach. It will also feature a traditional ceremony and cultural meeting.
The program includes a day dedicated to traditions and ancestral practices of Madagascar's different ethnic groups, centered on "nofonkena mitam-pihavanana," followed by several conferences bringing together teachers, academics, and representatives from different communities. A meeting between parents and traditional authorities is also planned.
A visit to Mahabo, located approximately 45 kilometers away, is also on the agenda, with participation from different kings accompanied by their delegations.
A ritual requesting blessing at the mouth of the Morondava River, particularly for improved fishing, is also announced, before the installation of a stele and an official ceremony organized by traditional authorities.
For organizers, Taombavao Lohataona goes beyond a simple cultural event. "Lohataona is above all a celebration of who we are, our history and shared values," explains Tangalamena Patrick Zakariasy. The event aims to unite Malagasy people around fihavanana, solidarity, and national unity, while promoting heritage transmission to future generations.
The choice of Morondava is not presented as coincidental. The capital of Menabe region has significant historical, cultural, and ancestral heritage and maintains an important place in community life and preservation of Madagascar's various traditional practices.
The 2026 edition intends to particularly highlight Menabe's cultural and ancestral riches, while bringing together representatives from different regions of the country. "We want to make Morondava a great cultural center and highlight Menabe's riches while bringing together different regions," emphasizes the organizing committee president.
The committee finally stresses the national character of the initiative. "This should not be confused with political affiliation or religious belief. It is a national movement designed to strengthen unity and fihavanana among Malagasy people," affirms Tangalamena Patrick Zakariasy.
For 2026, Morondava's gathering intends to make Taombavao Lohataona a moment of cultural gathering and transmission on a national scale.