The project aims to document the endangered canoe-building knowledge of the Vezo people of southwest Madagascar, focusing on the lakambezo, their primary canoe type. Built through a collaborative system involving both coastal fishermen and inland communities with forestry expertise, the lakambezo reflect strong Austronesian roots, distinguishing them from other Malagasy vessels influenced by Arab and European traditions. Today, this craftsmanship is critically endangered, especially due to the decline of the Farafatse tree—an essential material for canoe construction.
Through high-definition audiovisual documentation, ethnographic interviews, and digital photogrammetry, the research will record every stage of canoe-making, from timber selection to final assembly. The project will also generate detailed 3D models and 2D technical drawings for in-depth structural and hydrodynamic analysis.
Special attention will be given to the empirical methods builders use to achieve the desired shapes—both “by eye” and through acoustic and other sensory qualities that guide their work. Interviews will document oral traditions, technical vocabulary, and the aesthetic and symbolic meanings of the lakambezo, while also exploring the impacts of environmental and cultural changes on this maritime heritage.
PI: Maurizio Borriello
Location of Research: Ampasilava and Andavadoaka, Southwest Madagascar
Host Institution: Archipelago Network
Top banner image: Vezo fishermen work together to haul a lakambezo canoe ashore after a fishing trip. To ease the beaching process, the sail is kept rigged so that the following wind helps push the canoe onto the shore. Photo credit: Maurizio Borriello.