Andevo

The Andevo, or slaves, were one of the three principal historical castes among the Merina people of Madagascar, alongside the social strata called the Andriana (nobles) and Hova (free commoners).

[1][2][3] The Andevo, along with the other social strata, have also historically existed in other large Malagasy ethnic groups such as the Betsileo people.

The slavery was abolished by the French administration in 1896, which adversely impacted the fortunes of Merina and non-Merina operated slave-run plantations.

[9][10][2] A Hova person could be reduced to a slave for crimes or a debt in default, and in this state he would not be an Andevo, but be referred to as Zaza-hova.

[4] This presumed "impurity" and "purity" has been a reason for the historic social taboo against inter-marriages between Andevo and non-Andevo strata of the Malagasy societies.