Merina people
The Merina people are the largest ethnic group in Madagascar. They historically have had a highly stratified caste system. The Merina society emerged in the 15th century in the central high plateau region of Madagascar. Its society, like many ethnic groups in Africa, had two category of people, the free locally called the "fotsy", and the serfs or "mainty". These were divided into three strata: the "Andriana" (nobles), the "Hova" (freemen), and the lowest strata called "Andevo" (slaves).