Antalaotra
The Antalaotra are a small ethnic group from the northwest region of Madagascar.
Etymology
The name Antalaotra comes from the Malagasy language and means "people of the sea,"History
The Antalaotra descended from Swahili traders who settled in Madagascar between the 10th and 12th centuries marrying Malagasy women or Makoa wives and adopting Malagasy language. The Antalaotra acted as trade facilitators between Madagascar and the East African coast. In 1506, the Portuguese tried to break their trade monopoly by launching raids killing both Arabs and Antalaotra and looting their settlements but eventually failed.The Antalaotra became vassals of the Kingdom of Boina in the 18th Century after the conquest of Andriamandisoarivo. Many Antalaotra fled to Mayotte during the Merina-Sakalava war in the 19th Century especially when the Merina army burned their capital Mahajanga.