[14][15] Hanitra wanted to improve relations with Senegal by acknowledging that the French colonial-trained forces were made up of soldiers from many African nations.

[16] The band used valihas, koras, and tamas on the album; several songs employed the harmonies of sisters Hanitra and Noro.

"[27] The Guardian considered Son Egal "a typically exuberant dance set but also a brave and original political diatribe which contrasts the island's colonial past with modern-day racism and corruption.

"[14] SF Weekly called the album "a vibrant, sweeping condemnation of the political corruption eating away at the island of Madagascar.

"[28] JazzTimes labeled it "political music with a seductive pulse and surface, a fascinating project," writing that "the group masterfully blends indigenous Malagassy music with modern notions, and in this case, arranges a collaboration with Senegalese musicians.