Ihosy

Ihosy lies in the southern highlands of Madagascar, in the country of the Bara. Herds of zebu cattle have long been central to Bara wealth and social life. The region's rivers and uplands lie south of the Betsileo kingdoms, whose rulers sought influence beyond their own highland valleys. During the eighteenth century the Betsileo ruler Andriampanalina expanded south into Ibara and secured the allegiance of the Bara ruler Andriamanely II. Bara political traditions also remember the Zafimanely lineage and its ruler Raikitroka, who around 1800 introduced measures intended to ease disputes among his people.