This proverb emphasizes the importance of human relationships, even if they are contentious, compared to solitude. The Ankaratra mountains, a mountainous range in Madagascar, symbolize an isolated and challenging place. It suggests that it is better to have disputes and interactions with others than to live in complete loneliness. The equivalent in English could be: ‘Better bad company than loneliness.’ The idea is that human interactions, even though they might lead to conflicts, are essential for our well-being.