Anjanahary Cemetery is one of the only and by far the biggest graveyard in Madagascar. Classified by the government as a Red Code Area as concerns security, it is considered to be one of the most dangerous places in Antananativo, whose intricate maze of graves and crypts became a perfect sanctuary for fugitives, thieves, fences, drug dealers and drugs addicted trying to elude the police. A local guide publicly warned: “Don’t go there especially when it gets dark, not because of ghosts or some weird things, but because there are bad guys living there, thieves and other malicious people waiting for prey and smoking crack”.
What the government does ’t say is that the graveyard is populated mostly by children: after the coup d’état in 2009 a rising number of children were orphaned or abandoned, ending up in the streets or wherever they managed to find a roof for free. Anjanahary cemetery became a place where rejected children could find a home, living together as a family, a complex society with its own rules and laws.
Since Malagasy jealously keep their ancestors close to their everyday life and don’t build monumental graveyards, Anjanahary cemetery represents an anomaly according to their beliefs: having been built by French colonizers and Chinese emigrants workers, the graveyard is considered to be a foreign territory, a place where white dead are abandoned to the cold loneliness of the earth.
It is therefore no surprise that the Graveyard Generation, sustained by petty thefts, turned this silent place into their own playground, playing all day long and eating among the graves, resting on the big grass field surrounding the mass grave for the infectious deceased.
In the southern part of the graveyard, children play among the graves. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
The graveyard generation turned the silent spaces of the dead in their playground, leaving their signature on the French crypts. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Children play while the older graveyard dwellers cook the dinner for everybody. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Smoking weed during at sunset. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
The word "cemetery" comes from the ancient greek "koimeterion": the sleeping place, dormitory. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Childen reaching a safe place before it starts to rain. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Some people don't permanently live in the graveyard, they come here to get gravel by breaking the ancient gravestones, and then they sell it to companies involved in roads constuction. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Cooking inside an ancient crypt, J. said: "I usually eat rice with whatever I find around... Let me teach you how to cook my favourite meal, as soon as I manage to find a stray cat around... That is definetly my favourite dish!". Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Malagasy people do not build graveyards: the only one existing in Madagascar was founded by French colonial soldiers, according to Napoleonic laws for plague prevention. Now is occasionally used by the Chinese who moved to the country as railway construction workers. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Little F. was born deaf-mute, helped by her older brother. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Smoking weed during at sunset on the top of a grave. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Shoes belonging to a family await outsitde their personal crypt/house. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Inside an old Crypt a mother get a little relaxation with her little son. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
N. and her two stepchildren. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Little P. plays hide and seek from the roof of a grave. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
A child from the graveyard generation playing at soldiers on a gravestone of a French military. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
The graves has been turned into a kitchen for the ones who live in the graveyard. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Children play cards and gamble inside an old crypt. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
The graveyard itself is big enough to host different communities, one of the most dangerous is the one living in the muslim area of the cemetery and most of its hinabitants are addicted to heroin. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Children play while waiting for their clothes to get dry before the sun goes down. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Sustained by petty thefts, the graveyard generation is often addicted to inhaling paint, the so called drug of the poor. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Risen as actual siblings, most of the children living in the graveyard are not really blood relatives, the oldest ones help and feed the youngest. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Children go back to their shelters when dusk approaches. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
In the middle of the graveyard there is a big glass field: it is the biggest mass grave for the deceased who died from the plague epidemic. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Childrend plays catcher from roof to roof on the top of the graves. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Collecting water at sunset. Anjanahary cemetery, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
