Hira gasy village troupe contest

Also known as Hira gasy

Hira gasy is a day-long performance of the Malagasy highlands: a village troupe gives speeches, harmony songs and dances before its neighbours, often in a contest with another troupe that the crowd judges by its cheers.

Play the preview About this tradition

Hira gasy village troupe contest: photograph by Rakotovaogael — Photo: Rakotovaogael, CC BY-SA 4.0, source on Wikimedia Commons

Hira gasy village troupe contest: the game in attract mode

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How to play

You are the young speaker of a village troupe on a market plaza.
Tap a choice, or press its number, to decide what you do at each part of the show.
When a saying needs its last word, pick the one you think is right; your line is written on the song page.
Wit and harmony grow as you choose well; your ending gives one to three stars.

Rules at a glance

The show follows the old order: drums, speech, song, dance and a closing piece.
Patient, generous and clever choices earn wisdom points; boasting and mocking earn none.
Bragging, mocking another performer or shaming a singer cannot be undone and costs the best ending.
Each saying is answered once; a wrong answer costs a little wit or harmony.
Three stars need wit and harmony and none of those missteps.

About the tradition

Hira gasy comes from the central highlands of Madagascar, where troupes of related families, in matching jackets and dresses, travel to perform at gatherings and markets. The speeches, songs and dances follow a set order and carry advice about living well together. This is an original contest story in that spirit.

Origins

A living tradition passed from person to person; it is not tied to a single dated origin. It belongs to the cultural world of Africa: Great Lakes and Indian Ocean.

Credits

Tale and artwork: World Heritage Games (original)
Photo: Rakotovaogael, CC BY-SA 4.0, source on Wikimedia Commons
Text: CC BY-SA 4.0, World Heritage Games.

Sources

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hira_Gasy_musicians_playing_drums_and_

Get the app

Hira gasy village troupe contest is one of 10 stories and theatre games in the Story & Theatre of the World app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Submitted to the App Store and Google Play; in review. Store links appear here the day it goes live. One app, many traditions, no account needed.

See all 10 stories and theatre games in the app

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