Hova
In its most current significance with Madagascar even, the term hova traditionally indicates the most important subdivision of the people Merina, corresponding to the common people. In this direction, it could be opposite with Andriana on the one hand and with mainti-enindreny of the other. In many cases however, it did not correspond inevitably to “commoner” because the particular status of the clans hova could vary considerably. Some profited indeed from important privileges similar to those of the nobility. In the case even of the Tsimahafotsy of Ambohimanga the, most prestigious of Hova with the Tsimiamboholahy of Ilafy, they often had preeminence on Andriana in the management of the businesses of their common province, or even of the whole of the kingdom. It is also known that certain clans hova go down in fact from local kinglets overcome during the unification of the kingdom and continued to be considered (and sometimes with being recognized like such by the others!) like “noble”. This explains why all the Prime Ministers for the Kingdom of Madagascar since the access to the capacity of the queen Ranavalona first in 1828 came from the two clans hova Tsimahafotsy and Tsimiamboholahy previously quoted. And in spite of the rule of endogamy normally prohibiting the union between hova and andriana, Rainilaiarivony, Prime Minister of 1864 to 1895 could become officially (even if, actually, it were especially with title symbolic system!) the husband of the three last queens whom it served.
In a generic direction, in particular in the use of the non-Merina, Hova could be also used to indicate the whole of Merina. This is why the Royaume Merina was often described as “kingdom hova” in the colonial use of the XIXe century.
Outside Imerina, the term “hova” was also used to indicate the noble ones among the Betsileo, the Bara, the Tanala and other people of the south-east of the island. It becomes simply then synonymous with andriana , which makes it possible to wonder about its true significance of origin.
With the result that ultimately, in practically all the cases of figure, the translation of the term hova always claims many precautions.
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