Identification. The term "Tsimihety" usually refers to one of the eighteen or twenty tribes or ethnic groups of the Republic of Madagascar; however, Tsimihety possess neither political unity nor an ideology of unity. They are best described as an association of people who have a similar history of avoiding domination and of observing various traditions ( fombandrazana ) that maintain their independence. The name means "those who do not cut their hair," a sign of refusal to recognize a monarch. More generally, it can be taken to identify all those people who refuse to recognize the authority of external powers presented as a hierarchy. Sizable minorities of other Malagasy groups live among Tsimihety.
Location. Tsimihety are located between 13°50′ and 16°10′ N and between 47°10′ and 50°00′ E, in the central part of northeastern Madagascar. Because they are seminomadic, however, their boundaries change constantly. Tsimihety territory is bounded on the east by that of the Betsimisaraka, on the south by that of the Sihanaka, on the west by that of the Sakalava, and on the north by that of the Antankarana (but with forest between the people to the east and south and with the Massif de Tsaratanana between Tsimihety and the Antanakrana). The northern uplands of the Massif are uninhabited, but vanilla is grown on the lower slopes, around Andapa. Otherwise, Tsimihety country comprises well-watered narrow valleys separated by low ridges. Temperatures range between 19° C and 23° C, except in the highlands. The hottest months are between November and March; the rainy season lasts from October to March, and there are dry southeast winds from April to July.
Demography. Population statistics are hopelessly inaccurate, but Tsimihety have been estimated to number between 340,000 and 700,000.
Linguistic Affiliation. Tsimihety is a dialect of Malagasy, which is a Malayo-Polynesian language. The nearest related language to Malagasy is Maanjan of Borneo.
I am a Tsimihety from Madagascar, and i have to agree that Tsimihety will differ in general culture.
Tsimihety from Mandritsara(Northeast) will have a very different cultures from the ones from Antsohihy (NorthWest). And that is the case everywhere they are.
They do not settle in any specific areas and even the languages have some slight differences from place to place. But not much, so one will always know that the person is Tsimihety based on how they speak.
The term Tsimihety or "those who not cut their hair", "izahay tsy mitapaka maramaragna" in Malagasy is true as well. However that might have been the case a long time ago, but believe me we do now. Politically, Tsimihety are not that much involved although the first Malagasy president, the late Philibert Tsiranana, is from my original city.
I hope this helps.
Greeting from Madagascar