(Maldivian Performers. Image by Badruddeen via Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/mackro/5767386760 )

Happy Independence Day, Maldives! On July 26th, 1965, this Southeast Asian archipelago country gained independence from the United Kingdom. Today we are exploring the African art form that found a place in Maldivian culture. Let’s jump right in!

The Republic of Maldives is located off the coast of Sri Lanka and is made up of 1192 islands, with 200 of them being inhabited by human beings. Maldivians are said to be a mixture of the descendants of Sinhalese and Tamil groups from Sri Lanka and Southern India, as well as Chinese, Malagasy, Indonesian, and Malay people.

Boduberu is an art form that involves singing, dancing, and drumming. Although the form was introduced to the Maldives from Africa, there are multiple speculations about how it was introduced. This practice, which translates to ‘Big Drum’, is said by some to have been brought to the islands by Somalians, who were enslaved in the country by a Sultan in the 1800s. After being emancipated, the Somalians allegedly took occupations as musicians, and their performing style, eventually known as Boduberu, became a staple in the country. Others say the form was brought to the Maldives in the 11th century by African sailors who voyaged to the continent.

This performance is usually done by a 15 to 20 person band. The two-sided drum used for the performance is made of coconut wood and goatskin. Boduberu bands are mostly male and discuss themes ranging from patriotism to satire or romance.

(Maldivians performing the Boduberu. Image by Badruddeen via Flickr)

When Boduberu bands perform they usually wear a sarong, or long piece of fabric worn as a skirt, and a white shirt. Today this practice is done to celebrate events like Eid, weddings, and more. The beat and song usually start at a slow pace, and builds into a dramatic, cinematic extravaganza, with dancers accentuating the drum rhythms, and audience members eventually joining the dance ritual.

Watch a Boduberu band perform here.

Works Cited