The
Bara people are a
Malagasy ethnic group living in the southern part of the central
plateaus of
Madagascar, in the
Toliara Province, concentrated around their historic capital at
Ihosy. The Bara are the largest of the island's
zebu-herding clans and have historically lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle, although an increasing proportion are practicing agriculture. Bara society is highly
patriarchal and
endogamy and
polygamy are practiced among some Bara sub-clans. Young men practice
cattle rustling to prove their manhood before marriage, and the
kilalaky musical and dance tradition associated with cattle rustlers has gained popularity across the island.