A legacy of music and dance
The music, dance and culture of the Maldives' are deeply rooted in an island lifestyle that revolves around the sea and their origins can be traced back to the Indian, Sri Lankan, Arab and North African mariners who visited the islands on their journeys through the trading routes of the central Indian Ocean.
The heart and soul of traditional Maldivian music and dance is the Boduberu – meaning ‘big drum’ in Dhivehi, the Maldivian language – a distinct magical mix of slow rhythmic drum beats, indecipherable yet melodious vocals and dance performed by an all-male ensemble attired in traditional sarongs and white sleeved shirts – and can often be seen and heard being played by groups of young men who hang out and dance together after sundown on inhabited islands.
As the daylight fades an ensemble of four to six drummers begins the Boduberu performance with a slow, steady and even-paced drum beat and a relaxed swaying and swinging of the arms, as the night proceeds the tempo increases, the music becomes frenetic and the dancing progresses into a more animated rhythmic frenzy – in some versions, the dancers even enter a trance-like state.
Other traditional music and dance items performed by all-male ensembles include Dhandi Jehun, Langiri, Thaara and Gaa Odi Lava – most of which involve rhythmic music and dances using various cultural props.
Likewise, there are some dance acts designed to be performed in the royal courts, of days gone by, exclusively by Maldivian women: the Bandiyaa Jehun in which women dressed in costumes called “Dhigu Hedhun” dance to the rhythmic tunes with a metal pot colloquially known as Bandiyaa – a tantalizing performance of delicate movements signifying the ancient Maldivian lifestyle; Maafathi Neshun – a group dance in which women attired in national dress dance in small rows or groups of two or three displaying different symbols with artificial flowers attached to a string; and Bolimalaafath Neshun, a folk dance, representing an old tradition in which women present the Sultan with gifts during auspicious occasions such as Eid and is considered one of the most impressive of Maldivian music and dances.