How do traditional religious rites continue among Malagasy Christians?

In Madagascar, conversion to Christianity has not replaced traditional religious practices, particularly those centered on ancestor worship. Most Malagasy people, regardless of their religious affiliation or level of modernity, continue to observe customs related to the family tomb and demonstrate respect for their ancestors.12

The most prominent of these rites is the famadihana, or "turning of the bones." During this ceremony, the remains of ancestors are removed from the family tomb, wrapped in new lamba (traditional shawls) woven specifically for the occasion, and returned to the tomb following a kabary—a formal, traditional speech filled with proverbs. These practices persist alongside the observance of major Christian holidays such as Easter and Christmas, reflecting a cultural landscape where traditional and new expressions are frequently blended.2