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Jaojoby outside Le Bus nightclub inAntananarivo, 1999

Eusèbe Jaojoby (born 29 July 1955), commonly known by his surnameJaojoby[ˈdzodzubʲ], is aMalagasy composer and singer ofsalegy, a musical style of northwesternMadagascar. Critics consider him to be one of the originators of the modern salegy style that emerged in the 1970s, and credit him with transforming the genre from an obscure regional musical tradition into one of national and international popularity. Jaojoby also contributed to the creation of two salegy subgenres,malessa andbaoenjy. Jaojoby has been called the most popular singer in Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands, and is widely referred to as the "King of Salegy". His success has earned him such honors as Artist of the Year in Madagascar for two consecutive years (1998–1999) and the role of Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund in 1999.

In 1970 Jaojoby began singing in the northern coastal town ofDiego-Suarez. He performed with bands that were experimentally blending American soul and funk with the Malagasy musical traditions of the region. The artist gained popularity and toured regionally, producing four singles with The Players before the band broke up in 1979. After a short break in the 1980s to pursue a career in journalism, Jaojoby resumed his musical career and rose to national prominence with his 1988 hit "Samy Mandeha Samy Mitady". He then reoriented his career toward music, recording his first full-length album in 1992 and becoming a full-time professional musician the following year. He has since released eight full-length albums and has toured extensively in Madagascar and abroad accompanied by his wife and adult children, who perform in the band with him. (Full article...)

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Madagascar, then officially known asFrench Madagascar, was a French colony at the outbreak of theSecond World War, having been under French administration since 1885. It played an important role in the war due to the presence of critically important harbors, the contribution of Malagasy troops, and was also the scene of fighting betweenAllied andVichy French forces in 1942. After thefall of France in 1940, Madagascar became a crucial flashpoint in contention between theFree French movement andVichy France. The island was also consequential in thePacific theater of the war asImperial Japanese naval forces operated unopposed off the island for some time.

In 1942, the British and several other Allied forces launched aninvasion of Madagascar, seeking to protect its position as an important juncture in Allied shipping and deny its use to theAxis. In addition to its role as a key link in the Allied supply lines and major provider of troops,Madagascar was also briefly considered as the solution to theJewish Question by the government ofNazi Germany who openly floated deporting Europe's Jewish population to the island in 1940. This scheme known as theMadagascar Plan never came to fruition because of the British takeover. The island was officially handed over from the British toFree France in 1943 under whose control it remained for the remainder of the war. (Full article...)

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Three Horses Beer (better known locally asTHB) is apale lager that has been brewed by Star Breweries ofMadagascar since 1958. It is the highest-selling beer in Madagascar and has been described as emblematic of the country. THB is sold nationwide and, since 2005, has been exported to such markets as France,Reunion Island,Comoros, andMayotte. The Malagasy beer is produced at two breweries in Madagascar, the first centrally located inAntsirabe and the other in the northern city ofAntsiranana. THB Pilsener, the most common variant of THB, has a light taste and is produced from mostly localbarley,corn, andhops. Star Breweries also produces THB Fresh (ashandy with less than 1% alcohol), THB Special (6.2% alcohol), and THB Lite (1% alcohol). Recent investments in Star Brewery infrastructure have allowed a 20% increase in production since 2011.

After advertising alcohol in the media was banned under formerPresident of MadagascarMarc Ravalomanana, Star Breweries has increasingly promoted THB through unconventional means. These have included sponsoring theTHB Champions League, Madagascar's nationalfootball championship, and holding annual beer festivals. In addition, THB is a regular sponsor of local musicians through major annual festivals and tours. Star Breweries has also hired musicians to perform in music videos created to promote the beer. In 2014 the THB label was significantly redesigned, and in 2015, a new slogan, "THB eo foana e!" ("THB always!"), was promoted alongside the beer's longstanding trademarkSoa Ny Fiarahantsika ("The Pleasure of Being Together"). Malagasy musical stars and other public figures regularly promote the beer. (Full article...)

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