Is Madagascar considered part of Africa? Assignment parameters--please advise.

[Harriet Vane]

I asked my high school Modern Lit class to choose a region of Africa OR a people group of Africa and provide a short snapshot-style report of that region/people group in class on Friday to go along with their reading of modern African history (part of our world history course). One student would like to do Madagascar. When I gave the assignment I was thinking of the African continent. As an island off the coast, does Madagascar count as part of Africa, or is it its own entity? Should I ask my student to stick to the continent?

 

Thanks!

[regentrude]

Why would it not count? Great Britain clearly belongs to Europe, even though it is an island.

It would not have occurred to me that islands don't belong to the continent they are close to.

[Guest inoubliable]

Why would it not count? Great Britain clearly belongs to Europe, even though it is an island.

It would not have occurred to me that islands don't belong to the continent they are close to.

 

 

:iagree:

[Jean in Newcastle]

Madagascar is part of Africa on all atlases I've looked at. I think it would make a lovely report.

[OrganicAnn]

I would consider it part of Africa. Africa is the closest continent to Madagascar. I would guess it shares some cultural traits with the African mainland near Madagascar.

 

If you said Europe and someone picked England or Ireland, you would probably be okay with that. If you said Asia and someone picked Japan, you would probably be okay with that.

[justasque]

If the student is interested, why not?

[Nart]

Madagascar is fascinating. It was first populated by people from Islands that are now part of Indonesa around 500 B.C. to 300 AD. Settlers from mainland Africa arrived a few hundred years later.

[Harriet Vane]

If the student is interested, why not?

 

My concern is to fulfill the goals of the class assignment, which is to present a snapshot of Africa. This same student originally requested (enthusiastically) to do Australia, which does not fulfill the goals of the assignment as it is not African at all. There are many islands that are not considered part of the nearest continent (Cuba, for example), so I wanted to make sure that Madagascar is actually considered African and not its own entity. If it is African, then it will contribute to our discussion on African life and politics; if not, then it is a distraction from the goal.

[Harriet Vane]

 

If you said Europe and someone picked England or Ireland, you would probably be okay with that. If you said Asia and someone picked Japan, you would probably be okay with that.

 

Yes, but not all islands are considered part of the nearest continent. Cuba is one example. I just wanted to make sure Madagascar is truly considered African before giving consent.

[Plateau Mama]

Madagascar is considered part of South Africa.

[nd293]

Madagascar is considered part of South Africa.

 

I think you mean SouthERN Africa!

[Mom in High Heels]

"I like to move it, move it. I like to move it move it." Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

I would absolutely consider it a part of Africa. Thought it was actually a piece of India, before breaking off from Gondwana, the super continent that included what is now Africa, India, and many parts of the Middle East. We did a research project on Madagascar a few years ago and I had no idea it was once part of India. It was actually connected to both India and Africa, but Africa broke away and it was still attached to India for a while. Not that this has any bearing, I just thought I'd share.

[lavender's green]

"I like to move it, move it. I like to move it move it." Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

I would absolutely consider it a part of Africa. Thought it was actually a piece of India, before breaking off from Gondwana, the super continent that included what is now Africa, India, and many parts of the Middle East. We did a research project on Madagascar a few years ago and I had no idea it was once part of India. It was actually connected to both India and Africa, but Africa broke away and it was still attached to India for a while. Not that this has any bearing, I just thought I'd share.

 

 

I studied geology in college and whenever someone mentions Madagascar I love to bring up this fun fact!

[Halftime Hope]

The CIA factbook has it classified under Africa: Madagascar. If your part of your discussion has focused on colonialism, Madagascar was colonized by the French. I'm not sure that your student will find a "tight connection" to African life and politics, like they might with a different nation. From the 30 seconds of online sleuthing I did, with its location, it's history Arab and French settlement, surrounded by countries with an English/Dutch colonial background, it may turn out to have kept its own separate life, which could make for a very interesting report. I might assign two students with other countries close to that south eastern edge of the continent to huddle with Mr. Madagascar and have them do a compare/contrast.

[TXMomof4]

Cuba isn't part of the N. American continent? I understand it isn't part of the land mass, but I thought islands were associated with the land mass? Are all islands just hanging out there with no continent? I'm confused....

[Harriet Vane]

Cuba isn't part of the N. American continent? I understand it isn't part of the land mass, but I thought islands were associated with the land mass? Are all islands just hanging out there with no continent? I'm confused....

 

 

I think Cuba is considered a Caribbean island. My understanding is that the Caribbean islands are their own thing, neither North American nor South American nor Central American.

 

Another example would be Bermuda. It's not North American, as far as I know. Historically it was British.

 

Also, I think islands can be out there alone, not associated with a continent. (???) After all, many islands are/were formed by volcanic activity that has nothing to do with a continent.

[vonfirmath]

Yes, but not all islands are considered part of the nearest continent. Cuba is one example. I just wanted to make sure Madagascar is truly considered African before giving consent.

 

... Cuba is not considered part of North America?

 

http://encyclopedia2...m/North America "North America includes all of the mainland and related offshore islands lying N of the Isthmus of Panama (which connects it with South America)." In the children's atlas of the world, they color islands with their related continents, not a separate color as a non-continent. Maybe just like different cultures teach different numbers of continents, some don't teach that islands are part of any continent at all?

 

Here is a map of the continents: http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-continent-map.htm

 

This definition of the continent of Africa explicitly mentions Madagascar.

http://encyclopedia2...nary.com/Africa

[Mergath]

My concern is to fulfill the goals of the class assignment, which is to present a snapshot of Africa. This same student originally requested (enthusiastically) to do Australia, which does not fulfill the goals of the assignment as it is not African at all. There are many islands that are not considered part of the nearest continent (Cuba, for example), so I wanted to make sure that Madagascar is actually considered African and not its own entity. If it is African, then it will contribute to our discussion on African life and politics; if not, then it is a distraction from the goal.

 

 

Um... Cuba is part of North America.

 

ETA: Bermuda is a territory of the UK, but is technically still part of North America, given its location.

[Kathryn]

I thought I posted earlier. You seem to be really confused about continents, geographical regions, nations, and territories. Madagascar=part of African continent. Cuba=part of North American continent.

[Harriet Vane]

I thought I posted earlier. You seem to be really confused about continents, geographical regions, nations, and territories. Madagascar=part of African continent. Cuba=part of North American continent.

 

 

Yes, I am confused about these things, and feeling really silly about it too. When I posted my question I had given a quick glance at Wiki and two other touristy sites, so I knew the two people groups from which the Madagascar population are descended but didn't know the official designation of whether or not it is African now and was too tired to go digging. Hence I turned to the Hive for help. I wanted to be absolutely sure before teaching it as fact to my class.

 

I didn't look up anything about Cuba. I based my comments on what I have always thought. I have never heard Cuba or Bermuda referred to as being a part of North America. Never. The Caribbean islands have never been included in any geography or history lesson of North America for me. I looked in a few kids' workbooks I have and they are not included as part of the North America unit. I have just always thought the Caribbean islands were their own entity.

 

Guess I know better now. :tongue_smilie:

[Plateau Mama]

 

 

I think you mean SouthERN Africa!

 

I meant the South part of Africa. ;-)

[Lilaclady]

Madagascar is considered part of the African continent. Cuba Bahamas and so many of the carribean islands are part of the North American continent as far as my geography serves me.

[Guest kpmd]

Don't jump to conclusions! Just because Madagascar is in close proximity to Africa, it doesn't necessarily mean that the people of Madagascar (the Malagasy) are African!!!

 

"Although located some 250 miles (400 km) from the African continent, Madagascar’s population is primarily related not to African peoples but rather to those of Indonesia, more than 3,000 miles (4,800 km) to the east. The Malagasy peoples, moreover, do not consider themselves to be Africans, but, because of the continuing bond with France that resulted from former colonial rule, the island developed political, economic, and cultural links with the French-speaking countries of western Africa."

 

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/355562/Madagascar

 

I lived there for a while, and most Malagasy that I spoke to about this issue strongly feel that they are NOT African!!!

 

Do some research.

 

Good luck!

 

Kevin

[Guest kpmd]

http://splash.abc.net.au/documents/10181/28429/509px-Pangaea_continents.svg.png/a287c2e6-0f98-4c31-817b-a7562a40bfc9?t=1351123780558

[Trish]

I covered Cuba as part of Central America, which I still considered part of the North American continent.

 

It sounds like you don't really want the student to do Madagascar? If so, just make it forbidden! But I would still consider it part of Afrfica, no matter who lives there. After all, North America has a lot more people in it than "Native Americans."

[LisaKinVA]

hehe...going back to my debate days, in the loosest terms, anything considered part of the African continent is considered African (Madagascar counts), in the strictest terms, due to the impacts of colonialization, nothing touched by European or other outside influences is African (almost nothing, at that point). Using the Malagasy example, one could also eliminate Egypt... and some have argued South Africa. However, for the purposes of political geography, Madagascar is considered African, and was even a member of the African Union (like the Organization of American States, until they were suspended in 2009).

 

For the purposes of the assignment, I would argue YES they are part of Africa. If you wanted to limit it to the literature of a certain race...that would need to be much more specific, and would most definitely eliminate Egypt and possibly other parts of north Africa.

 

Africa (the continent) is not a homogeneous racial society, it is much more diverse.

[Jean in Newcastle]

Since the assignment was due a month ago. . . I sort of have the idea that the decision has already been made. . .

[stripe]

Don't jump to conclusions! Just because Madagascar is in close proximity to Africa, it doesn't necessarily mean that the people of Madagascar (the Malagasy) are African!!!

...

I lived there for a while, and most Malagasy that I spoke to about this issue strongly feel that they are NOT African!!!

 

There is not much of a Pan-African identity in any part of Africa, frankly. The major advocate of this was Qadafi. Most of North Africa does not consist of "black" people. Many Arabic speakers throuout the continent, who have dark skin and curly hair, also are not considered black or native by other ethnic groups.

 

Anyhow for what it's worth I once did a report on Reunion, which is also an island. And an overseas department of France. But located adjoining the African mainland. Therefore legally it is part of Europe. There are lots of islands off Africa.