Travel to the top of a high hill in Madagascar's central highlands to the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, a fortified complex with palace buildings, royal tombs, and a sacred forest. In Malagasy culture, textiles play a profound role in both life and death, with the finest textiles accompanying royals in their transition from human to deity.
Part of Africa’s Cultural Landmarks, a series produced by The Met in collaboration with World Monuments Fund and directed by Sosena Solomon, this documentary examines the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, a landmark which has long been one of Madagascar's most significant spiritual and historic sites, where generations have come to seek blessings of their ancestors and bathe in the sacred spring. During the early colonial period, French occupiers destroyed the tombs at Ambohimanga. Following Madagascar's independence, the royal remains were returned to the site, where they continue to be venerated today.
Featuring thoughtful commentary from Malagasy historians, this film highlights local perspectives on the site's enduring cultural resonance, aligning with the broader goals of the series in centering community-driven narratives of conservation and heritage.
About the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga
First occupied in the fifteenth century, the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga has long been one of Madagascar's most important spiritual and historic sites. Perched high atop one of the twelve sacred hills of Imerina, it emerged as a fortified political capital and royal palace during the reign of Andriantsimitoviaminandriana (r. 1740–1745). Defensive walls with seven gates were constructed, and the primary gate was closed by rolling a 12-ton stone disk to seal the opening and protect the Malagasy royalty in times of danger. The UNESCO World Heritage site includes a complex of royal buildings, a burial ground, fortification systems, a sacred forest with many endemic species, and the former seat of justice, which is located on an enormous granite rock and shaded by a royal fig tree. In the nineteenth century, the French colonial authorities made several attempts to undermine the significance and national symbolism of Ambohimanga, all of which proved unsuccessful. Today, it remains an important cultural and religious heritage center that Malagasy citizens access both for historical education and ancestral veneration.
Africa’s Cultural Landmarks is produced by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in collaboration with World Monuments Fund.
