This comic strip is a story inspired by the figure of Gisèle Rabesahala (1929-2011), a celebrated Malagasy woman politician of the twentieth century, who devoted her life to her country’s independence, human rights and the freedom of peoples. Born in Madagascar in 1929, Gisèle Rabesahala spent her childhood between France, Tunisia and what is now Mali, where her father was a non-commissioned officer in the French army. When he passed away in 1942, she returned to Madagascar with her family. The island was then a French colony.

Through her personality, her commitment and her exceptional career, Gisèle Rabesahala established herself, over the years, as a true pioneer and a major political force in Madagascar’s political history. At the international level, she ranks among those historical figures that are at the forefront of development, having worked for the freedom of the peoples of Madagascar, human rights, independence and the progress of humanity.

The illustrations are based on historical and iconographic research on Gisèle Rabesahala, the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga and twentieth century Madagascar.