Vieilles Chansons des pays d’Imerina is a collection of reinterpretations of traditional Merina hainteny oral poetry by Rabearivelo, published posthumously in 1939. Hainteny, translating to “knowledge of words”, is characterized by its use of rich metaphors and allusions.

JEAN-JOSEPH RABEARIVELO, born in Antananarivo in 1901, is Madagascar’s best-known modern poet, writing in French and blending Western influence with traditional Malagasy poetics in his compositions.