L'enracinement territorial des populations Merina (Hautes terres centrales malgaches)

The territorial roots of the Merina (Central Malagasy Highlands), foundations, processes and adjustment— The Merina from the Malagasy highlands can be considered as a model of rooted population not so much because of their agrarian activities than because of their kinship system in which the foko is both a territorial and family system. The problem lies in how to migrate without loosing one's identity ? An easy way is to settle an other foko on new grounds fostered by the ancient one through the Ancestors ideology and by transmission of the hasina (the effective grace). The Monarchy directed this springing trend at the end of the 18th century by selecting tribes and crediting some of them with a rank that would push them to mobility without loosing their status. A migratory trend was also maintained in resenting underestimated minority groups as a reaction according to the old family system of the foko. Only few memories of this past history can be traced back. Both migrant, territorially and socially established, the old privileged groups have asserted powerful networks. More characteristic of the underestimated minority groups the final migration is related to the social and economical status : the poorer's fate is either to stay or flee towards rich kin; only the richer would succeed a rural migration.