Clevenard to Honour Her Majesty Queen Angelina Ralaitsizafy-Andrianamelavahoaka, Queen of Vakinankaratra (Madagascar), at the Clevenard Open Project 2026 – 5th Edition & Clevenard Global Awards – 3rd Edition in Alicante, Spain

Alicante, Spain — Clevenard SL is honoured to announce that Her Majesty Queen Angelina Ralaitsizafy-Andrianamelavahoaka, Queen of Vakinankaratra, Madagascar, will receive a prestigious Honorary Global Leadership Award during the Clevenard Open Project 2026 – 5th Edition, taking place from 27–30 August 2026 at the iconic Palacio de Congresos Alicante, Spain.

The distinguished honour will be presented on Sunday, 30 August 2026, during the Clevenard Global Awards – 3rd Edition, the flagship awards ceremony of the four-day international forum. Held alongside the International Fashion Runway, the ceremony recognises visionary leaders whose exceptional contributions have positively impacted communities, preserved cultural heritage, and inspired sustainable development across generations.

As part of her participation, Her Majesty Queen Angelina will also deliver a special keynote address, sharing the remarkable story of the Kingdom of Vakinankaratra, its royal heritage, its commitment to women's empowerment, and its vision for sustainable rural development.

A Royal Legacy of Culture, Leadership and Community Development

Her Majesty Queen Angelina is the traditional Queen of Vakinankaratra, one of Madagascar's most historically significant and economically vibrant kingdoms, home to approximately two million people and recognised as one of the country's principal economic regions.

The kingdom's capital, Antsirabe, occupies a unique place in African history. During the colonial era, it became the place of exile for His Majesty King Mohammed V of Morocco and his family. It is also where President Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso received his military training between 1969 and 1973, experiences that helped shape one of Africa's most influential revolutionary leaders.

Crowned during the rising moon of 2017, Queen Angelina has since led the Royal House of Vakinankaratra with a vision centred on cultural preservation, education, social inclusion, and sustainable development.

Championing Women's Empowerment

Beyond her royal responsibilities, Her Majesty serves as the Founder and Patron of Her Rise Heritage, a charitable organisation whose origins date back to 1899, when it was established by her great-grandmother.

Today, the organisation empowers more than 30,000 highly skilled rural women across the seven districts of the Kingdom of Vakinankaratra by promoting traditional handicrafts, entrepreneurship, vocational training, and sustainable livelihoods while preserving Madagascar's rich artistic heritage.

Historical accounts from the period of French colonisation describe Vakinankaratra as one of the principal centres of the Menalamba resistance, a movement that emerged in defence of Malagasy sovereignty, traditional institutions, and cultural identity. While the ruling monarchy in Antananarivo ultimately accepted French colonial rule, many communities in Vakinankaratra chose armed resistance. Her Majesty's forebears were among those who united in opposition to colonial occupation during the Menalamba uprising, a conflict in which French colonial forces, missionaries, and Malagasy fighters all suffered significant casualties. This legacy of courage, resilience, and determination to defend their land, culture, and autonomy continues to shape the identity and values of the people of Vakinankaratra today.

"The struggle for empowerment in Vakinankaratra has never been exclusively a man's responsibility. The women of our royal lineage, including my great-great-grandmother and the Princesses who came before me, played an active role in defending our people, resisting colonial rule, and preserving our cultural identity. They fought not only for justice and against colonialism but also to preserve the existing rights, dignity, and respected position of women in our society through the principle of Hasin'ny Vehivavy, meaning 'Women's Sacredness.' This philosophy recognises the honour, value, and considerable place of women within Malagasy society, which has long embraced strong matriarchal traditions.

While we have always fought for the empowerment of women, we do not embrace Western feminism. In our culture, women's dignity, authority, and influence have existed for generations. Western feminism emerged from the historical experiences of Western societies, whereas Malagasy women have long helped shape society both within their families and far beyond the home. Our understanding of women's leadership is rooted in our own history, traditions, and cultural values. Regarding the French conquest of Madagascar, I believe the word 'capitulation' most accurately describes the decision of the Antananarivian Monarchy to surrender after only a few cannon shots from the opposing forces beyond the hills, leaving our country under foreign rule for generations. This remains an important historical lesson for our people.

Following in the footsteps of my forebears, my foremost duty as Queen and as a descendant of the Vakinankaratra royal bloodline is to lead my people towards genuine independence through complete freedom from foreign involvement in our affairs. Preserving our autonomy, protecting our heritage, and ensuring that our people determine their own future remain the central responsibilities entrusted to me by my ancestors and by the people of Vakinankaratra."

Her Majesty is also the founder of the Royal Vakinankaratra Your Initiatives & Sharing Light Programme, an innovative rural sustainability initiative that promotes education, community engagement, cultural preservation, environmental responsibility, and youth leadership. The programme is jointly led by the Royal House of Vakinankaratra and university students from rural communities throughout the kingdom.

An International Ambassador of Malagasy Heritage

Born into the royal lineage of Betafo, Queen Angelina combines deep respect for her ancestral heritage with extensive international experience gained through her studies and professional career abroad, including in the United Kingdom.

In 2024, Her Majesty received the Visionary and Excellence in Philanthropy Award during Dubai Fashion Week in recognition of her work empowering rural craftswomen throughout Vakinankaratra.

Reflecting on the honour, Her Majesty said:

"I dedicated this award to the four generations of Princesses who preceded me for the tremendous work they accomplished. My great-great-grandmother possessed a remarkable spirit of resistance. She trained the women of our communities in hidden huts on the mountain peaks while rebelling against the French colonialists, who stripped the royal families of their lands. Our people—mostly women and children—were left to starve, while many of the men were publicly murdered, tortured, imprisoned, or forced into labour.

Following in the footsteps of my forebears and continuing the fight for genuine autonomy and independence without relying on government support or foreign assistance, including international organisations and NGOs, is a great honour. Even in 1899, my ancestor understood that we had to fight for our own autonomy.

It was this quiet resilience and bravery of the people of Vakinankaratra that inspired Thomas Sankara. His mentor was none other than my great-uncle, Regis Rakotonirina, a highly respected progressive sociologist whose vision was to break the barriers between the military elite and the rural population.

My people of Vakinankaratra are approximately 85% educated rural citizens and are once again well known for their deep sense of unity and their courage in standing against all forms of injustice. The recent Gen Z uprising in Madagascar was led by Vakinankaratra students in Antananarivo, and we continue to live by our motto: 'Tsary Misy Harena Nohon'ny Olona' — 'There Is No Wealth Above Humanity.'

Throughout Madagascar's history, movements for justice and reform have often begun with or been led by the intellectuals, youth, traditional leaders, and people of Vakinankaratra. This is the spirit that Thomas Sankara witnessed while living here, and it profoundly inspired him."

She has become a respected advocate for cultural diplomacy, promoting Malagasy traditions, craftsmanship, tourism, and women's leadership through international partnerships and cultural exchanges. Her work continues to strengthen Madagascar's global cultural presence while creating opportunities for rural communities.

Her Majesty believes that traditional leadership has an important role to play in preserving history, promoting unity, empowering future generations, and supporting national development through collaboration with governments, educational institutions, civil society, and international partners.

A Celebration of Global Excellence

The Clevenard Global Awards honour distinguished leaders whose achievements demonstrate excellence in leadership, humanitarian service, diplomacy, business, education, culture, innovation, tourism, and community development.

Commenting on the announcement, the organisers stated:

"Her Majesty Queen Angelina Ralaitsizafy-Andrianamelavahoaka exemplifies visionary leadership rooted in heritage, compassion, and service. Her dedication to empowering women, preserving Madagascar's rich cultural identity, and promoting sustainable development makes her an outstanding recipient of this international honour. We are delighted to welcome Her Majesty to Alicante for what promises to be an unforgettable global celebration of leadership, culture, and unity."

About Her Majesty Queen Angelina Ralaitsizafy-Andrianamelavahoaka

Her Majesty Queen Angelina Ralaitsizafy-Andrianamelavahoaka is the traditional Queen of Vakinankaratra, Madagascar, and an internationally respected cultural leader, humanitarian, and advocate for women's empowerment and heritage preservation.

Since her enthronement in 2017, she has dedicated her reign to strengthening communities through education, cultural diplomacy, youth development, sustainable rural initiatives, and the preservation of Malagasy traditions.

As Founder and Patron of Her Rise Heritage, she leads programmes that preserve traditional craftsmanship while creating economic opportunities for thousands of rural women. Through the Royal Vakinankaratra Your Initiatives & Sharing Light Programme, she continues to promote education, sustainability, and community-led development throughout the kingdom.

Her Majesty's leadership reflects a lifelong commitment to service, cultural excellence, and international cooperation, making her one of Madagascar's most respected traditional leaders.

About the Clevenard Open Project 2026

The Clevenard Open Project 2026 – 5th Edition is an international four-day forum themed:

"A Global Celebration of Business, Culture, Creativity & Human Connection."

The event brings together global leaders, diplomats, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, tourism professionals, educators, creatives, authors, and innovators from Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, the Americas, Asia, and beyond to promote international collaboration, investment, cultural exchange, and sustainable development.

Event Highlights

• Day 1 – 27 August 2026: Global Authors' Recognition & Education Summit
• Day 2 – 28 August 2026: Global Economy, Trade, Solid Minerals, Agriculture & Investment Summit
• Day 3 – 29 August 2026: Global Tourism & International Film Celebration
• Day 4 – 30 August 2026: Clevenard Global Awards – 3rd Edition & International Fashion Runway

Dates: 27–30 August 2026

Venue: Palacio de Congresos Alicante, Avinguda de Dénia 47–49, 03013 Alicante, Spain

Media Contact

• Clevenard SL
• Phone: +34 672 931 216
• Website: www.clevenard.com
• NIF: B75809574

About Clevenard

Clevenard is a global networking, media, technology, tourism, and business platform dedicated to connecting people, cultures, businesses, and opportunities across continents.

Through innovative digital platforms, international events, strategic partnerships, and media initiatives, Clevenard promotes investment, entrepreneurship, tourism, cultural diplomacy, education, and sustainable development while building meaningful global connections.

Mission: To connect the world, amplify voices, and create opportunities that transform lives.

Categoria:

Comunicado de imprensa 

Organização:

Clevenard

Escrito por:

Tolu Osindero

Telefone:

+34 672 93 12 16