RALAIARINOSY Nantenaina Christiane
TANTELINOHARIANTSOA Patricia
ANDRIAMANANTSOA Hanitriniala
RAHARIVOLOLONA F. Yvette
RASOLOMANANA H. Faniry
RASOANANTENAINA Joséphine

« THE VARY BE MENAKA »

The « VARY BE MENAKA » is a traditional dish specially prepared by Malagasies, made of zebu meat, pork and rice. For the cooking, we usually use a big pot, wood sticks that are surrounded by three stones that we call « TOKO TELO ».
For six persons, you need a kilo of zebu meat, a quarter of greasy pork and a kilo of rice. For the preparation, we first mix meat in the pot and we pour one litre of water, then we add a bit of salt. We use another pot to cook the rice and we add twice more water than rice. We would like to say that meat and rice are cooked separately.
Generally, we eat the « VARY BE MENAKA » during the « FAMADIHANA », the ceremony of exhumation, which takes place 3 to 5 years after the ancestor’s funeral, during the dry season between June and September. This ceremony consists in digging up the dead. Malagasy people always have close relationship with their ancestors because they think they protect them and bless their generations of children. As it is a party, there is no « FAMADIHANA » without music : the « HIRA GASY », literally « Malagasy Song », is a music semi-opera semi-theatre which takes place especially in the central region of the Big Island. The band composed by ten to twenty-five persons dressed up with beautiful outfits. Each song is introduced with a quick speech, and then everybody eats the « VARY BE MENAKA », talk and ask the ancestors for their benediction. When we have finished wrapping the body of the ancestors, Malagasy people dance with them before they go back in the familial grave. It is not only during the « FAMADIHANA » that we eat that dish, but also in other circumstances such as the circumcision and a wedding in the countryside. This dish existed way before the colonisation of Madagascar. This dish comes from various regions of Madagascar. There is a slight difference in the Centre and along the coasts regarding the way of sharing this food. In the Highlands, we serve it in a plate, whereas in certain coastal regions, we put it inside a banana leave and, during this ceremony, everybody is invited even if he is not from the family.

By C.E.G. Middle School, Ambositra

Tina

Feta

Ingredients :
Manioc or rice flour
Bananas
Peanuts
Sugar
Leaves of green banana

Cooking :
Mix the flour with the squeezed bananas. Smash the peanuts.
Mix everything with water. Envelop everything in the banana leaves and steam.

Good appetite.