Could the current population of Ambohidrapeto be descendants of the legendary giant Rapeto? If not, could there be descendants of the latter among the current population? Indeed, the origin of this ancient village located on the outskirts of Antananarivo is attributed to a giant man named Rapeto. This explains our visit to the site to see if there might still be traces of this legendary giant and/or his descendants.

Did Rapeto, from whom the name of the current town of Ambohidrapeto comes, really exist, or is it simply a legend or a rumor? Is he like everyone else, or is he really that tall? It should be noted that Ambohidrapeto is located in the Itaosy region, named after the commune of Ambohidrapeto, and in the Antananarivo-Atsimondrano district, Analamanga region.

It is undeniable that the footprints of the giant named Rapeto are still there, but it is unknown who his descendants are or where, if any, his descendants went. It is undeniable that giants existed in ancient history, and even in modern times, we still see tall or giant-sized people. At that time, an on-site investigation was conducted and interviews and accounts were collected from village elders and residents.

Witness

Mr. Razanakoto Alfred, 84 years old, is a Raiamandreny and a resident of Ambohidrapeto. He is a native of the village and was the former president of the Ambohidrapeto community for 35 years. Here is the conversation we have with him:

"I'm over eighty years old." I'm telling you what I saw with my own eyes. The origin of the name Ambohidrapeto, ssomone says it's Rapeto's tomb. But when I was a child, I could still see with my own eyes part of Rapeto's kitchen. Ambohidrapeto is probably about 7 to 12 kilometers from Antananarivo, and 2 or 3 kilometers from Itaosy. Ambohidrapeto is located in the commune of Ambohidrapeto. The name Ambohidrapeto came there are footprints in Ambohidratrimo, in Ambohitrahaba, and here (Ambohidrapeto) there is also one. This is where Rapeto cooked. In fact, he lived there. I used to see this when I was little. That's why it was called Rapeto Village. So, when someone is famous, there is a memory of him. I don't know the story of the past, but I'll tell you what I saw (...).

On the Hilltop

The first village of Ambohidrapeto was located on top of a hill. It's worth noting that Ambohidrapeto is one of the "twelve castle mountains" of Imerina. The large village mentioned by Mr. Razanakoto Alfred was located within this ancient village. But Rapeto's footprint is still present on the hill. It is actually located within the grounds of the current CEG school. It was fenced and unlocked. Almost all students at the CEG Ambohidrapeto school know Rapeto's story because of the place where his footprints are kept here. Rapeto is mentioned in a book on Malagasy story, so many primary and secondary school students are familiar with him.

Rapeto and Rasoalao

The names and stories of Rapeto and Rasoalao cannot be separated. The latter is a woman. However, there are discrepancies in the accounts of their relationship. It is said that Rasoalao is Rapeto's wife. The person interviewed here stated that she was Rapeto Rasoalao's sister. Both accounts state that Rasoalao settled in this region of Itasy because he raised a large number of cattle. It is said that Rasoalao was a Vazimba and that the cattle he owned were called "ombimanga," meaning they were still wild cattle. If Rapeto and Rasoalao were people who lived together, it can be assumed that Rapeto was also a type of person called a Vazimba. But according to Malagasy stories, the Vazimba were originally a stocky people, that is, of short stature. But this Rapeto in question is a giant.

Where are his descendants?

Unless there is a generation gap, there should be descendants of Rapeto among the current residents of Ambohidrapeto, or perhaps they know his descendants. Their descendants don't necessarily live there, but they may still be there but have simply migrated. Here is the additional information provided by Mr. Razanakoto Alfred on this subject:

"There was also a story that said she gave birth to a son." Then the son said, "Papa, give me that moon." "Then he took it and his hand was burned. That's what killed him.

(…) His descendants are missing. To this day, there are no "traces" except for his footprints, which are the "trace" he left here." Anyone asked about Rapeto's descendants says they don't know it. This, for example, is the response of this woman who sells goods not far from where Rapeto's footprints or footprints are found. "There are no descendants here." "He didn't live here, he was just a guest passing through," he said.

Ambohidtratrimo and Ambohidrapeto

These are two different villages, but they are not far from each other. Ambodratrimo is a village slightly northwest of the capital Antananarivo, while Ambohidrapeto is to the southwest. From Ambohidratrimo, you can clearly see Ambohidratrimo. However, the difference between these two villages is that Ambohidratrimo was a village inhabited by a king in Imerina. This Ratrimo was a true historical figure because not only is he the origin of the name Ambohidratrimo, but his reign is historically confirmed there. According to Mr. Razanakoto Alfred, there were also footprints of Rapeto in Ambohidratrimo, which was also one of his pilgrimage sites.

Rapeto and Darafify

There is also a Malagasy story, or rather a legend, about a giant man named Darafify, which is written in books and known to schoolchildren of the past. This Darafify, according to the story, lived on the southeast coast of Madagascar. It is said that he is very tall. One day, while he was in the forest (because the southeast was still very wooded at the time), a woodsman t came to cut down a tree. However, he thought Darafify's legs were tree trunk and chopped them off with an axe. Darafify only heard this, but he thought it was a mosquito biting him, so it didn't really bother him. However, blood gushed out and Darafify's leg was broken. He fell headfirst into the sea;. This is how Darafify ended. The question is: do the legends about Rapeto and Darafify refer to different people? If so, were they people from the same era or different eras? Or are Darafify and Rapeto the same person ?

Other Story

Here are some other stories about Rapeto, as written in the book "Anganon'ny Ntaolo": "It is said that Rapeto was a Vazimba before Andriamanelo, a king in ancient times." The village where he lived was Ambohidrapeoto, west of Antananarivo. He understood the sky well enough. They cooked their rice in the eastern forest, but they ate it in Ambohidrapeto.

Rasoalao, on the other hand, is said to have been a Vazimbavavy from Ankaratra, who traveled west to Ambohimiangara and married Rapeto, giving birth to two daughters, Rasoavolandrainy and Rangorimanga. The couple's villages were located in Ambohimiangara and Ikasinga in Mandridrano, and in Ambatomanjaka and Ambohiby in Mamolakazo.

Finally, one of the unique features of this fenced area that preserves Rapeto's footprints is that it is unmarked. Places like this are often used by Malagasy people for rituals.

Ami Ral

Vendredi 21 mars 2025

[Raha tsiahivina dia ny herinandro lasa teo iny no nitrangan’io loza tamin’ny fitaterana olona nandeha lakana voalaza eto io.]

Nisy ny fepetra vonjimaika noraisin’ny manampahefana taorian’ny loza nitranga tamin’ny fitateran’olona amin’ny lakana eo anelanelan’Ankadimbahoaka sy Ankazotoho ny herinandro lasa teo iny, izay namoizana ain’olona. Noferana enina ihany ny olona azo entina isaky ny mandeha. Ankoatr’izay, tsy maintsy mitondra irony aro aina na « gilet de sauvetage » irony ny mpandeha tsirairay. Tsy fantatra kosa na fepetra manokana ho an’ireo olona miampita lakana eo Ankadimbahoaka sy Ankazotoho Anosimahavelona ihany izy ity na mihatra manerana an’Antananarivo sy ny manodidina.

Sarotsarotra

Mikasika ity fepetra vao noraisina ity, mety hisy hanaraka ihany ny famerana ho enina ny isan’ny mpandeha amin’ny lakana isaky ny mandeha. Toa mbola ho sarotsarotra kosa ny fampiharana ny tsy maintsy hitondran’ny mpandeha lakana fitaovana aro aina na « gilet ». Antony mahatonga izany dia eo aloha ny fahasahiranantsika malagasy. Faharoa, tsy tena matihanina amin’ny asa fitateran’olona ireo lakana ireo na dia manao izany isan’andro aza.

Raha tsiahivina dia ny herinandro lasa teo iny no nitrangan’io loza tamin’ny fitaterana olona nandeha lakana voalaza eto io. Olona miisa iraikambinifolo miaraka amin’ny mpanamory no nandeha lakana tamin’io. Olona nirava avy niasa hariva handeha hamonjy fodiana ny ankamaroan’izy ireo. Lakana tsy voizina fa sintonina amin’ny tady moa no fampiasan’ireo mpitatitra eny an-toerana. Ny fahavotsoran’ny tady no niantombohan’ny loza ary niafara tamin’ny fivadihan’ny lakana. Vehivavy renim-pianakaiana iray no namoy ny ainy tamin’izany.

Ilaina

Marihina fa efa an-taonany maro no nisy ireo lakana mpitondra olona mivezivezy mampitohy ireo fokontany roa ireo ary lakana miisa telo no miasa isan'andro mitatitra ireo olona eny an-toerana. Ankoatry ny eto anefa dia marobe ireo toerana sy tanàna ahitana lakana manao fitaterana mampita olona mivezivezy amin’ireo faritra iva andalovan’ny renirano na misy rano eto Antananarivo sy ny manodidina. Ny reniranon’Ikopa, ohatra, dia mandalo toerana sy tanàna maro ary ivezizivezen’ireo mponina avy any amin’ny lafiny ilany havia sy ny lafiny ilan’ny havanana. Arak’izany, tena ampiasaina amin’ny fitateran’olona eto Antananarivo sy ny manodidina tokoa ny lakana ary mahavonjy, saingy misy ny fanatsarana tokony hatao.

Ami Ral

Vendredi 21 mars 2025

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