olona be hasina, person of much virtue. Tribal spiritual leaders who are the intermediaries between the razana (ancestors) and the living. They are responsible for maintaining and occasionally amending fady, the social rules similar to Polynesian taboo.

It is unlikely that lemurs will survive in the wild unless ombiasa are enlisted in their protection, but this is a delicate process which cannot be imposed by Westerners or burocrats, but must be done one-on-one by Malagasy speakers.

Alternative form for ombiasa : ombiasy.