Ever wondered how special the Maldivian culture is? Visiting many countries, it is easily noticeable the significance of their cultures to other cultures, possibly due to cultural integration through migration and colonialization. It is mostly the very mass and powerful nations, that can truly possess the originality of their culture. Maldives such a small island nation, that is only a mere stream of inkblots over the Indian Ocean was lucky to benefit from its geographical isolation. It was early integrations of many cultures, that became a successful natural experiment of diversification creating an insignificant realm of what the world calls– Maldivian.
In the modern integration of pop-culture, Maldivian artistry fails to grab the local attention with their interpretation of 21st-century world trends. However, create a new sensation within the Maldivian culture and it becomes everything the locals and the world crave for. It can be seen well-known in the music industry, where classic rock and R&B stand indecisive to be declared a hit. However, listen to songs like “Fari Paree” by Fasy featuring Mishy, a song that was recorded live that has never failed to escape local playlists. It is not the rock band that only garnered the song years of attention, it was the folk-like singing genre of Mishy collaborating with the beats of Boduberu (traditional wooden drums made using lamb-skin and ropes) in the background. It can also be heard in the ‘Dhoni’ album by the infamous and legendary Zero Degree Atoll. An album than never escaped Maldvian hearts, with its unique architecture in poetry with the composition of natural and instrumental sounds of the nation. A contemporary version of the album was released in 1997 in France, marking Zero Degree Atoll to be the very first musicians of the nation, to publish overseas. While each community shares interests in different aspects of artistry, Maldivian artistry progress with its secret cultural ingredient.
While folk-like nostalgia is what speaks to the local community in terms of artistry, it is also noticeable in modern-art and craft as well. It can be seen in Oil Paintings by Fathimath Zuhra who portrayed an abstract illusion through the dim colourizations. Through her works, a time-capsule like awakening is felt through canvases such as ‘Bandiya Dance’ & ‘Community Call’. Modern day artists such as Maldha Mohamed’s recent exhibit featured soul-transcended like expressions within the Maldivian heritage. Escaping from art towards fashion design, Maldivian lacquer work & mat-woven designs, representing contemporary illustrations are more in-trend within the market than high fashioned clothes. Such as, Muraka Apparels Designer T-shirt collection of “Maahaulu”, expressing contemporary designs influenced by the natural environment, took the market by storm.
Maldivian cultural influence has been ever-growing in recent Maldivian artistry, and it is truly beautiful. Dropping a hint to the ancestral heritage of the Maldives, artistry found its new authentic home in the island nation. Though some fear of losing the original sensations of the cultural arts, it should be noted that integration and improvisation will only advance the arts to new heights. After all, the Maldive island community commenced with the peaceful union of islanders of different cultural backgrounds. It is only right, that we encourage envisioning beyond our limits.
