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EspañolMUSIC OF THE MALDIVES
The Maldives are an island nation in the Indian Ocean, and its culture is marked mainly by Indian, East African, and Arab influences.
The most widely-known form of indigenous music is called boduberu. It is also the most popular, especially in the Northern Atolls. It is said to have appeared in the Maldives in about the 11th century, and that it may have East African origins. It is a dance music, performed by about fifteen people, including a lead singer and three percussionists, as well as a bell and a small stick of bamboo with horizontal grooves called an onugandu.
Boduberu songs begin with a slow beat, which eventually enters a frenetic crescendo accompanied by frenetic dancing. Lyrics can be about any number of subjects, and often include vocables (meaningless syllables).
Thaara music is performed by about 22 people seated in two rows opposite each other. It is performed only be men and is somewhat religious in nature. Like boduberu, thaara songs begin slowly and come to a peak. Thaara is said to have arrived from Arabs who came from the Persian Gulf in the middle of the 17th century.
Gaa odi lava is a special type of song performed after the completion of manual labor. It was said to have been invented during the reign of Sultan Mohamed Imadudeen I (1620-1648), for the workers who built defenses for the city of Malé.
In the early 20th century, Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III ruled the Maldives and the youth developed a form of music called langiri, using thaara as the major source and modifying its performance.
The bolimalaafath neshun is a dance performed by women on special occasions or when giving gifts to the sultan. These gifts, most often shells, are kept in an intricately-decorated box or vase called the kurandi malaafath. About twenty-four women typically participate, in small groups of two to six. They march towards the sultan singing songs of patriotism or loyalty. Since becoming a republic in 1968, this dance is no longer performed for any sultan, since one no longer exists.
Another woman's dance is called maafathi neshun, which is similar to langiri. It is performed by women dancing in two rows of ten each, carrying a semi-circular string with fake flowers attached.
A dance called fathigandu jehun is performed by either one person or a group of men, using two pieces of short bamboo sticks to accompany the dancers and a drummer, who also sings. These songs are typically epics, most famously one called ''Burunee Raivaru''.
Bandiyaa jehun is perhaps related to the Indian pot dance, and is performed by women. Dancers mark the beat with a metal water pot, while wearing metal rings. Modern groups perform either standing or sitting, and have added drums and harmonicas.
Kulhudhuffushi (on Haa Dhaalu Atoll) is known for kadhaamaali, which is performed with numerous drums and a kadhaa, which is made of a copper plate and rod. About thirty men take part, dressed in costumes of evil spirits (''maali''). Kadhaamaali is associated with a traditional walk around the island late at night by the elders, in order to ward of ''maali''. This walk lasted for three days, and was followed by music and dancing.
Maldivians feel some affinity to Northern India through their language, which is related to the languages of North India. Most older generation or traditional Maldivians like to watch Hindi movies and like to listen to Hindi songs. The reason is that out of a similar language, similar rhythms and cadences develop. In fact it is very easy for Maldivians to fit local lyrics into a Hindi tune because of this cultural closeness. For example the Hindi words "Ek din" (one day) become "E kudin" (those kids) in Dhivehi, and in this manner a new local song develops.
Hindi songs are the most popular songs in Maldives, especially the older ones from Muhammad Rafi, Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle. Therefore most popular Maldivian songs are based in (or influenced by) Hindi songs. Similarly, popular local dances are North Indian dances, especially Kathak.
The favourite musical instrument of Maldivians besides the drum is the bulbul, a kind of horizontal accordion. This instrument is also used to accompany devotional songs, like
Maadhaha. Singers like Naifaru Dohokko became famous through songs with bulbul music in the background.
There are also female singers producing traditional songs, among them the most popular were Fareeda Hasan and Jēmuge Donkamanaa, whose songs are continue to be cherished by Maldivians even though both women have died.
Formerly in the islands of Maldives there was a festival called Maulūdu, where religious songs were sung by groups of males within a pavillion (haruge) specially built for the occasion. When a Maulūd was arranged, local islanders had to build a large, open-sided pavilion with wooden poles. They would thatch it with coconut-palm fronds and decorate it with oil lamps and special patchwork draperies. The day of the event, special food would be prepared and beautifully displayed for the benefit of the Maulūd singers and of a great number of guests coming from their rival island (or village), in their best dresses, on festively decorated boats. Here the host islanders had to prove themselves hospitable in the preparations and accommodation, in order to be able to compare favorably when it was their own turn to receive hospitality in the rival island on a similar occasion.
★ Clarence Maloney. People of the Maldive Islands.
★ Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999, ISBN 84 7254 801 5
| Contents |
| Traditional Performances |
| Popular Songs and Dances |
| Religious Songs |
| References |
Traditional Performances
The most widely-known form of indigenous music is called boduberu. It is also the most popular, especially in the Northern Atolls. It is said to have appeared in the Maldives in about the 11th century, and that it may have East African origins. It is a dance music, performed by about fifteen people, including a lead singer and three percussionists, as well as a bell and a small stick of bamboo with horizontal grooves called an onugandu.
Boduberu songs begin with a slow beat, which eventually enters a frenetic crescendo accompanied by frenetic dancing. Lyrics can be about any number of subjects, and often include vocables (meaningless syllables).
Thaara music is performed by about 22 people seated in two rows opposite each other. It is performed only be men and is somewhat religious in nature. Like boduberu, thaara songs begin slowly and come to a peak. Thaara is said to have arrived from Arabs who came from the Persian Gulf in the middle of the 17th century.
Gaa odi lava is a special type of song performed after the completion of manual labor. It was said to have been invented during the reign of Sultan Mohamed Imadudeen I (1620-1648), for the workers who built defenses for the city of Malé.
In the early 20th century, Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III ruled the Maldives and the youth developed a form of music called langiri, using thaara as the major source and modifying its performance.
The bolimalaafath neshun is a dance performed by women on special occasions or when giving gifts to the sultan. These gifts, most often shells, are kept in an intricately-decorated box or vase called the kurandi malaafath. About twenty-four women typically participate, in small groups of two to six. They march towards the sultan singing songs of patriotism or loyalty. Since becoming a republic in 1968, this dance is no longer performed for any sultan, since one no longer exists.
Another woman's dance is called maafathi neshun, which is similar to langiri. It is performed by women dancing in two rows of ten each, carrying a semi-circular string with fake flowers attached.
A dance called fathigandu jehun is performed by either one person or a group of men, using two pieces of short bamboo sticks to accompany the dancers and a drummer, who also sings. These songs are typically epics, most famously one called ''Burunee Raivaru''.
Bandiyaa jehun is perhaps related to the Indian pot dance, and is performed by women. Dancers mark the beat with a metal water pot, while wearing metal rings. Modern groups perform either standing or sitting, and have added drums and harmonicas.
Kulhudhuffushi (on Haa Dhaalu Atoll) is known for kadhaamaali, which is performed with numerous drums and a kadhaa, which is made of a copper plate and rod. About thirty men take part, dressed in costumes of evil spirits (''maali''). Kadhaamaali is associated with a traditional walk around the island late at night by the elders, in order to ward of ''maali''. This walk lasted for three days, and was followed by music and dancing.
Popular Songs and Dances
Maldivians feel some affinity to Northern India through their language, which is related to the languages of North India. Most older generation or traditional Maldivians like to watch Hindi movies and like to listen to Hindi songs. The reason is that out of a similar language, similar rhythms and cadences develop. In fact it is very easy for Maldivians to fit local lyrics into a Hindi tune because of this cultural closeness. For example the Hindi words "Ek din" (one day) become "E kudin" (those kids) in Dhivehi, and in this manner a new local song develops.
Hindi songs are the most popular songs in Maldives, especially the older ones from Muhammad Rafi, Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle. Therefore most popular Maldivian songs are based in (or influenced by) Hindi songs. Similarly, popular local dances are North Indian dances, especially Kathak.
The favourite musical instrument of Maldivians besides the drum is the bulbul, a kind of horizontal accordion. This instrument is also used to accompany devotional songs, like
Maadhaha. Singers like Naifaru Dohokko became famous through songs with bulbul music in the background.
There are also female singers producing traditional songs, among them the most popular were Fareeda Hasan and Jēmuge Donkamanaa, whose songs are continue to be cherished by Maldivians even though both women have died.
Religious Songs
Formerly in the islands of Maldives there was a festival called Maulūdu, where religious songs were sung by groups of males within a pavillion (haruge) specially built for the occasion. When a Maulūd was arranged, local islanders had to build a large, open-sided pavilion with wooden poles. They would thatch it with coconut-palm fronds and decorate it with oil lamps and special patchwork draperies. The day of the event, special food would be prepared and beautifully displayed for the benefit of the Maulūd singers and of a great number of guests coming from their rival island (or village), in their best dresses, on festively decorated boats. Here the host islanders had to prove themselves hospitable in the preparations and accommodation, in order to be able to compare favorably when it was their own turn to receive hospitality in the rival island on a similar occasion.
References
★ Clarence Maloney. People of the Maldive Islands.
★ Xavier Romero-Frias, The Maldive Islanders, A Study of the Popular Culture of an Ancient Ocean Kingdom. Barcelona 1999, ISBN 84 7254 801 5
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