Editor’s Note
This article explores the remarkable origin of Ilakaka, a town in southern Madagascar that emerged almost overnight following the 1998 discovery of the world’s largest sapphire deposit. It is a story of a community built on hope and the pursuit of fortune, drawing dreamers from across the island and beyond.
In the south of the island, the town of Ilakaka sprang up in the middle of desert plains after the discovery in 1998 of the world’s largest sapphire deposit. Since then, people have been flocking from Madagascar and elsewhere with the hope of finding the stone that will change their lives.
The sign at the entrance to Ilakaka sets the tone. The town owes its existence to sapphire mining and proudly proclaims it. The gemstone economy, with its deposit stretching over 250 km, supports more than 100,000 people in the region, who have come from all corners of Madagascar and even from abroad. The island supplies 40% of the global market.
