Culture of the Maldives
Encyclopedia
Maldivian culture is derived from a number of sources, the most important of which are its proximity to the shores of Sri Lanka
and South India
. The population is mainly Indo-Aryan from the anthropological point of view.
The language is from Indo-Iranian Sanskritic origin, which points at a later influence from the North of the Subcontinent. The Dhivehi
language is closely related to Sinhala. According to the legends, the kingly dynasty that ruled the country in the past has its origin there.
Possibly these ancient kings brought Buddhism
from the Subcontinent, but it is not clear. In Sri Lanka there are similar legends, but it is improbable that the ancient Maldive royals and Buddhism came both from that island because none of the Sri Lankan chronicles mentions the Maldives. It is unlikely that the ancient chronicles of Sri Lanka
would have failed to mention the Maldives if a branch of its kingdom would have extended itself to the Maldive Islands.
Since the 12th century AD there are also influences from Arabia in the language and culture of the Maldives because of the general conversion to Islam
in the 12th century, and its location as a crossroads in the central Indian Ocean.
In the island culture there are a few elements of African origin as well from slaves brought to the court by the Royal family and nobles from their Hajj journeys to Arabia in the past. There are islands like Feridhu and Maalhos in Northern Ari Atoll, and Goidhu in Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll
where many of the inhabitants trace their ancestry to released African slaves.
Bollywood
songs are among the most popular songs in Maldives, especially the old ones from Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh
, Lata Mangeshkar
, Asha Bhonsle. Therefore most local Maldivian dances and songs are based in (or influenced by) North Indian dances Kathak
and Hindi songs.
The favourite musical instrument of Maldivians is the bulbul
, a kind of horizontal accordion. This instrument is also used to accompany devotional songs, like Maulūd and Maadhaha. The Bodu Beru (literally "Big Drum") drumming performances, are said to have African roots!
A unique feature of Maldivian society is a very high divorce
rate by either South Asian or Islamic standards.
This is not so in the case of Minicoy Island though, where marriages are more stable.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. The population is mainly Indo-Aryan from the anthropological point of view.
The language is from Indo-Iranian Sanskritic origin, which points at a later influence from the North of the Subcontinent. The Dhivehi
Dhivehi language
Maldivian is an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by about 350,000 people in the Maldives where it is the national language. It is also the first language of nearly 10,000 people in the island of Minicoy in the Union territory of Lakshadweep, India where the Mahl dialect of the Maldivian...
language is closely related to Sinhala. According to the legends, the kingly dynasty that ruled the country in the past has its origin there.
Possibly these ancient kings brought Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
from the Subcontinent, but it is not clear. In Sri Lanka there are similar legends, but it is improbable that the ancient Maldive royals and Buddhism came both from that island because none of the Sri Lankan chronicles mentions the Maldives. It is unlikely that the ancient chronicles of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
would have failed to mention the Maldives if a branch of its kingdom would have extended itself to the Maldive Islands.
Since the 12th century AD there are also influences from Arabia in the language and culture of the Maldives because of the general conversion to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
in the 12th century, and its location as a crossroads in the central Indian Ocean.
In the island culture there are a few elements of African origin as well from slaves brought to the court by the Royal family and nobles from their Hajj journeys to Arabia in the past. There are islands like Feridhu and Maalhos in Northern Ari Atoll, and Goidhu in Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll
Southern Maalhosmadulhu Atoll
Southern Maalhosmadulu Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives. It consists of two separate natural atolls, namely the southern part of Maalhosmadulhu Atoll and the smaller natural atoll known as Goifulhafehendhu Atoll .Situated on the west...
where many of the inhabitants trace their ancestry to released African slaves.
Music and dance
Culturally Maldivians feel some affinity to Northern India through their language, which is related to the languages of North India. Most older generation Maldivians like to watch Hindi movies and like to listen to Hindi songs. Many popular Maldivian songs are based on Hindi tunes. 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 song.Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
songs are among the most popular songs in Maldives, especially the old ones from Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh
Mukesh
Mukesh Chand Mathur was an Indian playback singer of Bollywood. He, alongside Mohammad Rafi, Manna Dey and Kishore Kumar, left such an impact on the Hindi film industry that they are still remembered to date....
, Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
, Asha Bhonsle. Therefore most local Maldivian dances and songs are based in (or influenced by) North Indian dances Kathak
Kathak
Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh, India. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathaks, or storytellers...
and Hindi songs.
The favourite musical instrument of Maldivians is the bulbul
Bulbul
Bulbuls are a family, Pycnonotidae, of medium-sized passerine songbirds. Many forest species are known as greenbuls. The family is distributed across most of Africa and into the Middle East, tropical Asia to Indonesia, and north as far as Japan. A few insular species occur on the tropical islands...
, a kind of horizontal accordion. This instrument is also used to accompany devotional songs, like Maulūd and Maadhaha. The Bodu Beru (literally "Big Drum") drumming performances, are said to have African roots!
Marriage
Maldivian culture shares many aspects of a strong matriarchal tradition with ancient Dravidian culture.A unique feature of Maldivian society is a very high divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
rate by either South Asian or Islamic standards.
This is not so in the case of Minicoy Island though, where marriages are more stable.
See also
- See also: Music of the MaldivesMusic of the MaldivesThe Maldives are an island nation in the Indian Ocean, and its culture is marked mainly by Indian, East African, and Arab influences.-Traditional Performances:...