Nosy-Lonjo(called Sugar loaf in
English) is one of the historical places of Antsiranana. It was not so famous
like the other places and had less visitors, yet; owing to its location it
becomes now very well-known. In fact, there are some interesting thing that
worth discovering in it.
Nosy Lonjo is situated in the bay of Andovobazaha or
French bay ;which is the most southern
part of the bay of Diego-Suarez; popularly known as the second best bay of the
world after The one of “Rio de Janeiro”. Or by following the map, it is located
in Diego's exit on the Ramena road. It is a rocky islet of volcanic origin.
It is specific because of the
traditional formalities that hold there in regular time. That ritual custom is
called “The fijoroana”. It consists on
doing offertories to the ancestor and god, then praying them to bless and to
give people doing it something that they wish to have. In other words it is a place where people worship and make a
vow to god(including ancestor). And then, when their vow get realized, they
come back there and thank them, this must be followed by more offertories
according to the pledge and often accompanied with traditional party. That
second part is commonly called “Tsakafara”. Apart from that, there are people
who come there only for swim and worshiping in order to get luck in their life
or work. We called it : ”Fisehana”. Though, despite their difference, all of
those rituals are done in the early morning. Indeed, Nosy-Lonjo is considered
to be a sacred place so completely
forbidden by access; except people who endows supernatural spirit(“tromba” in
Malagasy) and King’s descendant.
That situation is due to the
legend that settled there longtime ago. It is said that there was a man named
“Lonjo”. He was among the race of people
endowed a supernatural power in “Ambavan’Iharana Vohemar”,and in “Matatagna”(a
place in region of Antemoro tribe). In other hand, the islet was before matched
with Nosy-Be, but when his death came closer, it broke with its main part and
moved here in Diego. So, Lonjo asked people to bury him there when he would get
died. Though, people buried him under the ground like all human, consequently,
the coffin where he was laid stood up and went to the islet. Then, it is said
that before when people went to that
islet his coffin appeared again above the sea that was to say that we should
asked his permission before getting there. That’s why it is called
“Nosy-Lonjo”.
In addition, Nosy Lonjo area is
one of the place that still shelter its mangrove swamp. Numerous scientist
project come there to study and to supervise it because the ecosystem is being
destroyed...
In sum, Nosy Lonjo is an
interesting place but we notice that it has never been promoted as a tourist
site. It might be because of the custom reason but here are other reasons: the
urban organization is not fit to the tourist activity. It is now surrounded by
lots of houses. Also, the kind of beach there is not so suit for leisure or
touristic purpose like in Ramena. However, Nosy Lonjo is a worth visiting place
and sounds great to you. You can rent a boat in Diego or in Ramena for
discovering it.
