Yesterday, a dozen actors, 90% of them young, brought Ny fireneko to the stage as part of celebrations marking the 60th birthday and 35 years of artistic career of Solohery Ramamonjy, president of Tropy Antananarivo Teatra. Aimed primarily at students but also at political authorities, the play raises public awareness about the role of youth in Madagascar's development.
For Solohery Ramamonjy, the message is clear. "Students are our main target, because brain drain is one of the greatest obstacles to our country's development. We want to raise awareness among young people: they have an enormous responsibility, as they will be the ones to take over. We are also addressing political authorities, because genuine political will is needed," he explains.
The play tells the story of Rasamy, who nearly loses his mind after finding his child, who has settled abroad and is ready to build a life there. Upon realizing his father's suffering, the child understands the consequences of his departure. Through this narrative, Ny Fireneko delivers a powerful message: why abandon your country when it is still possible to contribute to its development? Love of one's homeland forms the guiding thread.
The work also questions an education system largely inspired by foreign models and regrets that Malagasy culture is not sufficiently valued. This reflection is reinforced by a poem by Rado dedicated to preserving the Malagasy language and identity.
Faithful to the original text, the troupe rehearses every weekend to restore the spirit of the 1950s. The play is punctuated by thirteen songs, including Isika olombelona nofo, Misy izay zanako izay and Mijaly i Kiaky sy i Neny, composed by Ramanda Albert and Rabarinjaka Henri.
The project will continue its mission to promote Malagasy art with a new event planned for November. At the end of each performance, the artists remind the audience of an essential lesson: love your country and its cultural heritage, for no one else will preserve Malagasy culture in place of the Malagasy people.