The island populating would have been made during centuries around the beginning of Christian era . Anthropological , ethnographical and linguistic data connect the Malagasy people to the Indonesians , Southeast Asia populations . Undoubtedly , influences and groups have come from Africa and the Arabic world , but the background is essentially Asian .

Behind human types varieties and way of life , the language is the common denominator of all Malagasy : bound to the Malaysia - Polynesia dialects , it proves that groups originating from this region have spread throughout the island and fastened the linguistic unit .
The very compartmentalized relief of the island has favored the multiplicity of groups , living withdrawn into themselves . This desintegration of the human environment , as well as the different civilization levels, have favored the geographical determinism. The main ethnic groups represent in their localization and their way of life the degree of adaptation to natural conditions . Transplanted in a various and vast world , the Malagasy acquire their own characters : they are no more Asians , they are not Africans : in their insular environment , they form an original element , a world apart in a small continent .

We distinguish :
- The forest People : the TANALA and the BEZANOZANA
- The east coast People : the BETSIMISARAKA : in the southeast : the ANTAMBAHOAKA , ANTAIMORO , ANTAIFASY , ANTAISAKA , ANTANOSY and in the north east : the TSIMIHETY
- The pastoral people : the BARA , SAKALAVA and ANTAKARANA
- The People of the high land : the MERINA , SIHANAKA and BETSILEO
- Southern people : the ANTANDROY , VEZO , MAHAFALY

The Antaifasy (1)« those who live in the sands », in the south east coast , in the region of Farafangana .

The Antemoro (2) (those of the coast ), are found in the eastern coastal plain between Mananjary and Vohipeno. This group has for origin an Antalaotra islamized immigration coming from the Comoro archipelago. They hold the "Sorabe" (Koran holy Scripture) These books contain the Koran "surate", the group origins , the divination...... They are protected by the "Kabibo" .They have also introduced the "Antemoro " paper manufacturing process .

The Antaisaka (3) ( these coming from Sakalava ) have been redoutable warriors during previous centuries, they settled in Mananara banks . Their habitation mainly built with ravenala is heightened by piles, the interior is carpeted by an isolating cob . The funeral traditions are inspired from the Antemoro .The Kibory
( collective tombs) are built on height .

The Antakarana (4) ( these who inhabit the tsingy ) at the 17 th century , a group of Sakalava , living in the west, led by their chief Kozobe settled in the North in the surroundings of Diégo . They founded in the beginning of the 18 th century the Antakarana Kingdom spreading from Ambilobe to the Cape Ambre under the Sakalava protection . During the different conflicts with the Merina, the Antakarana took refuge in the numerous caves and caverns of the Ankarana mountainous massif . The Antakarana celebrate every five years the ceremony of the " Tsanga-tsaina " that commemorates the advent of the Antakarana ancient kingdom kings and emphasize the unity and the survival of the Antakarana community .