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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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TARIKA

Madagascar's most famous musical export, reinventing traditional Malagasy roots with contemporary lyrics, originally called Tarika Sammy after founder Sammy Andriamalalaharijaona. His group continued after his departure with other founder members, sisters Hanitra and Nora Rasoanaivo and three others. Their debut album Fanafody brought recognition for traditional Malagasy instruments, the valiha and marovany (zithers) and kobosy (a small guitar), along with electric bass; subsequent albums Balance and Bibiango followed by Son Egal '97 (all on Xenophile USA), with lead singer Hanitra's impassioned plea for reconciliation between the Malagasy and the Senegalese, long divided by French colonial exploitation.