Hira gasy, which literally means “Madagascan song”, is a musical art form of the Merina people who inhabit the regions of the Antananarivo and the highlands of Madagascar. Its origins date back to the 18^th century when the sovereign Andrianampoinimerina undertook to expand the rice fields and invited artists to encourage the dyke builders, bringing dancers, musicians, acrobats and masters of the art of oratory to the work sites. A new art form came into being from these encounters: the hira gasy.

A unique and synthetic genre, borrowing stripes, epaulettes, drums, violins and trumpets from European culture, this rural opera is an edifying example of the cultural mixity of Madagascar. This popular art is still practised today, and is written and devised to be low-brow, and remains one of the island’s vectors of democracy and culture to this day.

Joint production with the Maison des Cultures du Monde – CFPCI and Collectif 12 – Mantes-la-Jolie as part of the 22nd Festival de l'Imaginaire