Barefoot and cloaked in dust, fighters gathered in Antananarivo’s stadium, preparing to revive Madagascar’s ancestral martial art, moraingy.
Dating back to the 17th century, moraingy was once a warrior’s training and a rite of passage on Madagascar’s west coast.
Now mainly practiced in the north and northwest, the combat sport is striving for national recognition and professional structure.
Coach Thierry Saidani, who has trained champions in the island’s north, brought fighters to the capital to showcase its spirit and skill.
“This isn’t kickboxing,” he barked. “It’s tradition—marked by respect, humility, and passion,” he told AFP.
Among the stars is 28-year-old Armand, known as “the Elephant,” whose muscled frame and tattooed back command attention in the arena.
“I like the roar of the crowd,” he grinned. “Fame, money—it drives me.”
Moraingy fights are raw and visceral, played to hypnotic traditional music, often pushing fighters and spectators into trance-like states.
There are no written rules—only loose boundaries enforced by a referee to prevent dangerous or dishonorable blows.
There are no winners or official decisions. Audience applause determines whether a fight ends or continues.
Fighter Omar “Bongo,” once a boxer, switched to moraingy for its passion and better pay—up to $300 per fight in a country with a $52 monthly minimum wage.
Despite its popularity, fighters remain without insurance or medical support, prompting calls for reform and regulation.
Organizer Geoffrey Gaspard aims to form a national federation, professionalize the sport, and protect its athletes’ welfare.
“This is our heritage,” Gaspard said. “It deserves respect, recognition, and a future.”
On Saturday, fighters paraded through the city—strong, ready, and determined to put moraingy back on the national stage.
