Fady (taboo)

In Malagasy culture, fady (Malagasy pronunciation:) are a wide range of cultural prohibitions or taboos. People, places, actions or objects may be the subject of fady, which vary by region within Madagascar. The taboos are believed to be enforced by supernatural powers, and are particularly connected with Malagasy ancestor worship.

Although some are held nationwide, others may be particular to regions, villages or even individual families. Not all fady are still heeded, especially in areas where Christianity's influence is most pervasive, such as Imerina. Fady are an integral part of Malagasy identity and play an important part in community and identity formation. The word is a descendant of Proto-Austronesian *paliSi (compare with Sundanesepamali, Old Javanesepali-pali).

Common prohibitions include those against pointing at a tomb, against the eating of eels by pregnant women and, for onlookers, against describing a newborn baby as ugly. New fady are created constantly. When a new initiative or business is started, a ritual offering (joro) must be made to prove that it is not fady. Those who break a fady (ota fady in the infinitive) are shunned as unclean (maloto) and for endangering the community's spiritual balance, regardless of whether or not the infraction was deliberate. Foreigners in Madagascar are advised to respect local fady and alter their behaviour accordingly. Foreign travel advice published by the British government informs:

In many parts of Madagascar, aspects of daily life are regulated by taboos, known as 'fady'. These vary from one region to another. Fady can range from forbidden foods to restrictions on clothing. If you plan to visit remote rural areas, get advice from your tour operator or a local guide. They can advise you about how to behave in certain locations. If you plan a longer stay in a village, first check if you should inform the head of the local authority ('Fokontany') and the village head or wise man ('Ray aman-dreny').

Fady also form an important influence in other aspects of Malagasy culture. The Malagasy for "please" or "excuse me" is azafady, literally translating as "may it not be fady of me".

Some writers have argued that fady are conceptually similar to unwritten social taboos in western culture, in which disregard can lead to the violator being shunned by the community.