THE VEZO ARE NOT A KIND OF PEOPLE - IDENTITY, DIFFERENCE, AND ETHNICITY AMONG A FISHING PEOPLE OF WESTERN MADAGASCAR

This article presents a model of identity and difference alternative to ethnicity. It describes how the Veto of western Madagascar construe their identity by transcending descent or descent-based features of the person. To be a Veto is to have learned Veto-ness, and to perform it; identity is an activity rather than a state of being. Difference is construed by an analogous process of identification: others are different because they have acquired and perform another identity. To the Veto, neither identity nor difference is inherent in people; both are performative.