Part 1
Combining his love of photography with his passion for travel, Jean-Patrick Mamet has created an intriguing and poignant account of his expeditions. He shares his impressions of his latest journey across Madagascar through both words and pictures...
Two young girls on the train tracks
“A snapshot taken in Sahambavy on Easter Day, a grand national celebration. The two young girls, no doubt waiting for their families, were standing there in the late afternoon. After a joyous celebration on the shores of Lake Sahambavy, the inhabitants of the surrounding villages walked home along the railway tracks.”
A woman in front of her humble home
“The atmosphere in this small village bore a gentle effervescence. After a gruelling two-hour trek from Fianarantsoa to discover the inhabitants of these villages in the "granary of the Betsileo", we made a stop for a welcoming lunch at one of their homes. The lady in question is a neighbour of our hosts, and she came out of her house to greet us, trying to figure out what was driving the enthusiasm of the local children.”
Gentlemen laughing
"Caught on camera, this scene takes place during the Ambavalao zebu market, a weekly event that enlivens life in the region. People from the surrounding towns and villages often travel long distances, sometimes for hours or even days, to get to the market in time. This one is held outdoors, atop a hill in Ambavalao. Under the scorching sun, thousands of zebus are piled up, and the farmers or owners of these precious animals go about their business all day before returning home. It's a truly captivating sight. This photo was taken underneath the only kiosk on Zebu Hill, where everyone seeks shade after their deals are done.”
The man who sails his boat
"At no later than 6am, we stopped off in a fishing village along the way. Our driver was looking for cigarettes, our guides were hoping to find cheap alcohol, the kind that makes your teeth loose, especially at this early hour. As for me, I had no intention of smoking and no desire to see a dentist when I returned. I discreetly ducked behind a fence to explore the village, and above all to contemplate the sea where a few brave sailors were already returning after checking their lines or their traps. In this photo, a jig fisherman returns to port, following the waterline of a huge fishing net.
The sailor
"This sailor has teamed up with the captain as seen in the previous photo. They came to pick us up from a village two hours' sail from the Bay of Assassins. Despite the wind not being in their favour that day, they decided to leave their village at 2am and only reached the bay at 11.30am. That was an extremely long day for them. Fortunately for us, we made it back in just two hours. These sailors were real experts, manoeuvring their boats with carefully knotted old pieces of rope and patched up scraps of cloth used as sails".
Children with kitesChildren with kitesChildren with kites
Children with kites
"Still in Ambavalao. On the eve of the zebu market, the hill was packed with children in the afternoon. The wind was blowing that day. The conditions were ideal for twirling the kites, carefully crafted and patched with flour glue to dress up the orange sky at dusk. It was a colourful, deeply Malagasy display, with all the children enthusiastically asking us "Vazahas" to take their picture.
Mikea and his fire
"In a lost place, a nameless land that could not be located on any map, we were taken to meet Mikea, one of the last inhabitants of the Malagasy forests. As luck would have it, the staff at Pierrot le Suisse knew the way to get there. After going through unknown places and taking countless paths lined with majestic baobabs, we finally reached Mikea’s village, just before they were due to leave for a day of hunting and gathering. In this photo, we see one of the village elders lighting a fire under the watchful eyes of the children around him.
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