The island of Madagascar broke away from Africa about 160 million years ago and is now located some 250 miles off the Eastern coast. This isolation gave rise to an amazing assortment of plants and animals found only in Madagascar. However, humans arrived on the island only 1,500-2000 years ago.

No one is exactly sure about the true origins of the Malagasy people. Their customs, traditions, and appearance suggest that the first inhabitants came from Africa, Southeast Asia, India, and even Arab-speaking lands. Given Madagascar's location along early shipping routes, Europeans also contribute to the unique blend of cultures and ethnicities that comprise this diverse island nation.