Watch a tradition in motion: Moraingy, the Malagasy martial art, captured in rhythm and light by iAko Randrianarivelo.
Moraingy: The Soul of Malagasy Martial Art – A Photo Essay by iAko Randrianarivelo
In the bustling capital of Antananarivo, the traditional rhythms of moraingy, a Malagasy martial art, echoed through the streets in a rare event. Captured through the lens of Malagasy photographer iAko Randrianarivelo, this photo essay documents the reflection of local culture through moraingy.
Moraingy dates back to the 15th century and has spread across Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands, including La Réunion, the Seychelles, Mauritius, and the Comoros. The traditional Malagasy sport combines bare-knuckle punches, knee strikes, and sometimes headbutts, and is always accompanied by lively drumming and chanting.
iAko Randrianarivelo blends documentary photography with a focus on everyday Malagasy life, capturing moments with a strong sense of place and culture. In this photo series, he uses natural light, thoughtful composition, and close attention to expression and movement to create a visual rhythm that feels both grounded and unforced. The result is a narrative that unfolds organically, offering a respectful and compelling view into a living tradition.
Through iAko’s lens, we are invited into a world where bodies speak history, capturing both the raw intensity of the matches and the joy surrounding them: the music, the crowds, the honor between opponents.
Explore iAko’s visual story with The Game Magazine.
Photos © IMAGO/ Zuma Press Wire / iAko Randrianarivelo
About the Photographer
iAko Randrianarivelo (1986) is a photographer based in Antananarivo, Madagascar. For some years now, his photographs have reflected the everyday life of the Malagasy people, and he collaborates with IMAGO partner, Zuma Press. Sometimes he juggles reportage, sometimes he lets himself go in the streets of big cities, adapting to the changing lifestyle of the population. His aim is to show Madagascar in a different light, but also to advise the public, still in the throes of the arrival of images, that Madagascar still has a lot to share, especially regarding documentary photography.
Take a look at iAko Randrianarivelo’s website here.
See iAko Randrianarivelo’s full collection, Moraingy: Malagasy Martial Art, with IMAGO here.
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