King Toera was the last independent ruler of the Menabe region in western Madagascar who was executed by French colonial forces in 1897 during their conquest of the island. After initially extending hospitality to the French, he was met with betrayal when his town was attacked in a surprise assault. Toera and thousands of his people were massacred, and his skull was taken to France as a war trophy.
The French Expeditions and the Colonization of Madagascar
Madagascar’s colonization by France was the result of two military expeditions. The first expedition (1881–1882) established a nominal French protectorate, but it was the second expedition (1894–1895) that led to the full annexation of the island in 1896. Under the leadership of General Joseph Gallieni, France sought to consolidate its control over Madagascar, which it viewed as a strategic outpost in the Indian Ocean.
Gallieni’s “Pacification of Madagascar” campaign was characterized by brutal military tactics aimed at crushing resistance and dismantling traditional power structures. In 1897, Gallieni deposed Queen Ranavalona III, the last sovereign of the Merina Kingdom, and abolished the Malagasy monarchy, declaring France the sole authority on the island. This period of repression saw widespread violence, including the infamous Ambiky massacre, which claimed the life of King Toera and many of his people.
King Toera and the Ambiky Massacre
King Toera, also known as Andriamilafikarivo, was a respected leader of the Sakalava people in the Menabe region. His reign was marked by efforts to maintain independence and resist foreign domination. However, his resistance made him a target for French colonial forces, who viewed him as an obstacle to their control over western Madagascar.
The Ambiky massacre occurred on the night of August 29–30, 1897, during a French military campaign to “pacify” the Menabe region. Despite King Toera’s willingness to negotiate and his decision to lay down arms, French troops under the command of Augustin Gérard launched a surprise attack on the village of Ambiky. The assault was brutal and indiscriminate, resulting in the deaths of thousands, including King Toera, and other Sakalava leaders.
The French military claimed that the operation was necessary to suppress rebellion and ensure security in the region. However, accounts from witnesses, including French parliamentarian Paul Vigné d’Octon, painted a starkly different picture. Vigné d’Octon denounced the massacre in the Chamber of Deputies, describing it as a deliberate act of violence against a peaceful population. He estimated the death toll at 2,500, far higher than the official figure of 97.
The French authorities sought to justify their actions by portraying King Toera as a tyrant and a threat to regional stability. However, for the Sakalava people, he remained a symbol of resistance and a revered ancestor. The loss of his skull, which was taken by French troops and sent to the Natural History Museum in Paris, added to the trauma of his death.
King Toera’s legacy is deeply intertwined with the cultural and spiritual traditions of the Sakalava people. The Fitampoha, or “bathing of the royal relics,” is a sacred ceremony held every five years in the Menabe region. During this ritual, the bones of deceased Sakalava kings are cleansed and anointed with oil and honey, symbolizing respect for the ancestors and their continued presence in the lives of the living.
The absence of King Toera’s skull has marred recent Fitampoha ceremonies, serving as a painful reminder of the injustices of colonialism. Efforts to locate and repatriate his remains have gained momentum in recent years, with the Kamamy family, his descendants, leading the charge. In 2024, King Toera’s great-granddaughters formally requested the return of his skull, currently held at the Musée de l’Homme in Paris, emphasizing its importance for traditional rituals and ancestral veneration in their appeal to the French ambassador. The outcome remains pending, but a joint Franco-Malagasy commission is expected to soon decide on the return of his skull along with two others.
Sources:
https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_d%27Ambiky
https://www.urlaub-auf-madagaskar.com/en/fitampoha-without-the-dynastic-relics-of-king-to-era/
https://dormirajamais.org/ambiky/
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