Music of The Maldives - Modern Music

Modern Music

Hussain Shihab, formerly a musician and now the minister of state for arts, wrote a song to a foreign tune. This song was named hiy Adhu Roneeyey Nudhashey, which he admitted in a program broadcast on the anniversary of Television Maldives (TVM). Western music is more popular in the capital, as in any global city.

However, popular music has shifted from plagiarizing to more original concepts. The Dhivehi band Zero Degree Atoll released an album named Dhoni ("Traditional Maldivian Boat"). This album had roots in folk and ancient arts such as Raivaru, a type of traditional poetry, where letters are swapped to be sung in a certain melody. The album was a huge success, followed by its remake with few new songs in 1997, the album titled Island Pulse recorded in France. The band had a huge impact on the local population, which unofficially claimed it as the saviors of traditional Dhivehi musical art and the pioneers of modern Dhivehi music. Many other bands and local performers have kept up tradition. It is believed that the state sponsored radio and TV grew more in favor of foreign music, when most quintessential Dhivehi musicians started including political content in their lyrics. Such lyricists include Easa of Sea Child, unofficially considered the Bob Dylan of modern Dhivehi music, who was jailed for drug related issues. Although Easa is not regarded professionally, many of his songs have been stolen and sung. While serving time at Maafushi, he is said to have written more than a hundred songs. Songs such as Jamalegge Soora ("face of a camel"), Filavalhu ("lesson"), Fangivinun (a collaboration of folk and an original Raivaru), Insaana ("the Human") and Govaali Adu are very prominent among musicians, and in the underground music scene.