Hiragasy is an art form involving singing, dancing, and speech referred to as performing art.
Malagasy life is portrayed in happy moments and memorable events. Usually, there are two troupes performing at the same time and it lasts about an hour and thirty minutes. Each troupe has thirty members who perform Hiragasy with a specific function: composers, speakers, singers, musicians, and dancers. In Hiragasy, words are more valuable than gestures and music is more meaningful than dancing. There are moral, civic, and cultural values in the lyrics. Aponga, langoroana, Lokanga, jej, and mozika trumpets are examples of traditional instruments used in the music.
Hiragasy is not taught in schools or institutions in Madagascar. While each component of Hiragasy can be done independently, such as speaking or handling musical instruments. The practice of Hiragasy is generally self-learned within practicing families in Madagascar. Children are easily taught by their parents. Hiragasy is a vital form of education for young people in rural areas instead of formal education. By establishing peace and calm within the family, and among fellow citizens, maintains fihavanana, or social cohesion. Hiragasy serves as a cohesive element across all religious, ethnic, social, age, and gender groups.
During colonization, the Hiragasy were despised, and considered bad, useless, and inferior. It was through this safeguarding effort that FIMPIMAMAD (Fivondronan'ny Mpihira Malagasy eto Madagasikara) was formed in 1986. As a replacement for the dissolved confederation, the Federation of Hiragasy Opera Troupes, or FMGM, was formed in 2011. Further, Hiragasy has inspired numerous compilations, books, and books on CD and DVD, as well as university theses and dissertations.
Malagasy has made every effort to implement the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage since it ratified it in 2006. By issuing ministerial decree no. 13428/2015 on a national inventory of Hiragasy, the Ministry of Culture ensured its visibility and viability after recognizing and identifying its importance in Malagasy society in 2015. The National Register was notified on April 3, 2015, of the inscription on a list of Intangible Heritage. In the years since, both the State and the decentralized territorial authorities have actively safeguarded and disseminated the element.
With the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Antananarivo Urban Community (CUA) has organized free Hiragasy performances every Sunday during the months of August, September, and October in collaboration with the Analamanga Regional Tourist Office (ORTANA). Additionally, Malagasy National Television (TVM) has broadcast clips to counterbalance the foreign content that globalization brings daily into the country.