Children's crossing in Madagascar

Nederlands
Ambositra, IX.1993 IX.1993
 
Madagascar is known for the enormous biodiversity. The island carries numbers of endemic animals and plants. The same holds true for traffic signs. When I prepared the september-1998-campaign, and remembering the many 1993 samples, I planned to focus on Lemur and Baobab, just as any regular tourist. How wrong that was! Roadsigns popped up everywhere: lots easier to find than lemurs. Three weeks and many stops later I did not have the heart to ask the driver again and again. I'll have to go back, if only to find at least one rock-sign.

The many Lemur species could evolve thanks to the isolation from the African mainland. Funny thing is that the many roadsigns just benefit from foreign influences.

It shouldn't be a surprise that French import is most common. But other European countries also took their part in Malagasy roadsign evolution.

Please stop theorizing and show me the endemics
Beriboka, IX.1998
Antsirabe, IX.1998

Foreign influences

This is a French legacy sign; almost none are surviving in the mothercountry (we lost one in Tarbes). This design (with many variations) is most common.

Also worth mentioning is how this panel has been composed of separate boards. You can find other interesting wooden traffic signs further on this page. I can't remember this from any other country.

 The modern French sign has also been imported. I'm happy to see evolution already at work. (top right and three down)
Moramonga 1997; pict. T. Vandendriessche
Import from Germany
1993 near Miandrivazo 1998 Antsirabe 1998 Ambositra 1993 Antananarivo 1998
Find other sponsored signs in France

 Endemics

 
Few countries show a better workmanship of the hairdress. Ask Monsieur Jean (occupation: hairdresser) for more fine examples and learn that the evolutive ways of the hairdress are probably country specific. But there is more. Watch the drawing on the blue with white panels. Did you notice? The children are not holding hands. Try if you can find similar panels, besides the Malagasy signs. Hint: start with countries in Asia.
 
Ambositra - Ihosy Tana, IX.1998
 
We found this sign between Ambositra and Ihosy. The painting on wood shows exceptional detail. It rates a medal together with the Danish masterpiece. But it raises questions also.

Is it a guy who is pushing a girl onto the road?
Could it be a father bringing his daughter?

 Then this may be a mother from Antananarivo? But all are carrying kind of a book bag and that worries me. Parents often carry their child's bookbag, but they don't drag a back-up. So after all, they are maybe just first-borns.
Take alsoa look at Belize (mother) or Hungary and Laos (fathers).

< Ranohira, IX.1998
Fort Dauphin, IX.1998 >
 
< The position of this specimen has yet to be determined. The portrayed individuals are clearly adult. In other countries adults never cross the road in pairs. Only children do.

On the right a sign that has been removed from the collection. The 1998 visit proved that it announces a marketplace. It is not a warning sign for children possibly crossing the road.
Antananarivo, 1993 Antananarivo, 1998
 
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More roadsigns from Madagascar: Men at work