Arts and crafts in the Maldives

Although the tools used in the building of dhonis have changed, little has changed in its basic design. As in the past, the boats are still being built without a documented plan. The design and symmetry of the boat emerges as the boat is being built

Arts

Bodu Beru
Bodu Beru is the most popular form of music and dance in the country, enjoyed by the young and old alike. There is a Bodu Beru troupe on almost every inhabited island, and it is regularly played at special functions and festivals. The musical instruments used in Bodu Beru consist of three or four drums and a variety of other percussion instruments. The drums are made from hollowed out coconut wood, covered on both ends with manta ray skin or goat hide. A lead singer chants the lyrics and a chorus of 10 to 15 follows, clapping to the beat of the drums. The rhythm builds as the song develops until it reaches a frenzied crescendo. As the rhythm picks up, dancers come out from amongst the troupe swaying to the rhythm. As the beat becomes faster, the dancers leap and jerk to the beat as if in a trance. Onlookers join in the clapping and dancing. Old men suddenly catch a stray rhythm and throw themselves into the arena. To wild applause from the crowd, they gyrate and grimace in their dance, passing on to the young what they have learnt from their forefathers. According to some historians, African slaves introduced Bodu Beru to the country in the early 19th century. During the reign of Mueenuddeen I, these slaves were liberated and sent to Feridhoo in Ari Atoll. It is believed that bodu beru spread from there to become one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the country.

Thaara
Thaara also holds a special place in local folklore. Two lines of men attired in white sit on the ground and sing, beating hand drums while others dance around them. Thaara is believed to have been introduced from the Middle East in the 17th century. Today, Thaara is only played at national events.

Dhandijehun
Dhandijehun is another form of musical entertainment, which is popular throughout the country. This is mostly performed to celebrate festive events such as Eid and other national occasions.

Bandiyaa Jehun
Bandiyaa Jehun is a more popular form of dance performed by young women. The women carrying metal water pots stand in two lines facing each. They sing and dance to melodious tunes while tapping the rhythm on the pots with rings worn on the fingers.

Although western pop and Indian music is quite popular today, traditional forms of music and song that have been passed down through the generations still survive. Raivaru, farihi and bandhi are all unique styles of singing that are still practised by people around the country.

Crafts

Boat building
Although the tools used in the building of dhonis have changed, little has changed in its basic design. As in the past, the boats are still being built without a documented plan. The design and symmetry of the boat emerges as the boat is being built.

Imported hardwoods are now used in the place of coconut wood, which was used in the past to make the hull. Copper rivets are used to hold the planks together instead of coir, which was used for this purpose just 50 years ago. The square sail, made of coconut fronds, gave way to a triangular lateen sail. Even though this is still considered essential and is carried on board, it is used only during emergencies or to ease the strain of the engines. Almost all dhonis are driven by diesel power. Dhonis are mainly used for fishing and provide the livelihood for a large proportion of the population. Others are modified to be used for transportation of passengers.

Small dhonis are only 3m long and are used to travel the short distances between islands or to traverse the shallow waters of a lagoon. Islanders often use them to ferry firewood across from nearby islands. The average fishing dhoni used to be around 10m long, however the new generation of fishing vessels can be twice this size or even larger. The basic design of dhonis has proven to be seaworthy as it has been tried and tested for centuries. Even the luxury cruise vessels that are built in the Maldives use the same basic hull design and can be as long as 30m or more.

Carving
The beautifully carved tombstones in some of the old cemeteries, and the fine stone carving of the Hukuru Miskiiy in Malé, bear witness to the intricate skills of Maldivian stone carvers of the past. Maldivians are deft craftsman producing beautifully crafted pieces mostly out of what is available locally. Many of the skills have been passed on from generation to generation and it lives on still today. The art of calligraphy has strong connections with Islam. Old and new mosques display beautifully penned versus from the Koran. The Islamic Centre exhibits some of the finest samples of the work of modern calligraphers in the country.

While many crafts have become obsolete, others have found new life with the advent of tourism. The production of ornaments from tortoise shells and black coral, which were once valued by visitors, has now ceased completely due to the growing awareness for the need to preserve the environment.

Mats
Beautiful red mats are woven throughout the country, but the most famous are those woven by the women of Gadhdhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. Thundu Kunaa, as they are known in Dhivehi, range in size from a place mat to a full-size single mattress. The women of Gadhdhoo collect the reeds called haa from the nearby island of Fioari. They are dried in the sun and stained with natural dyes, the colour varying from fawn to black. These mats with their intricate abstract designs are woven on a handloom according to the imagination and skill of the weaver.

Wooden lacquer ware
Perhaps the most distinctive of the Maldivian handicrafts, wooden lacquer ware is almost exclusively produced in Thulhaadhoo in Baa Atoll. Liye Laajehun, as it is called in Dhivehi, involves the process of shaping and hollowing out pieces of wood to form beautifully crafted boxes, containers and ornamental objects. Made from the local funa (Alexandrian laurel), which grows abundantly throughout the country, they come in various shapes and sizes: small pillboxes, vases, and round or oval plates. These elegant pieces are lacquered in strands of red, black and yellow resin, and delicately carved with flowing flowery patterns.