Modern Music of Maldives

Former musician Hussain Shihab who is now the Minister of State for Arts, wrote a song to a foreign tune. This song was called hiy Adhu Roneeyey Nudhashey which he acknowledged in a program broadcast at the anniversary of Television Maldives (TVM). The western music is more renowned in the capital as in any global city.

source of picture: www.modernmusicschool.com

Though, the renowned music changed from plagiarizing to more original shows. The Dhivehi band Zero Degree Atoll produced an album called Dhoni (traditional Maldivian boat). This album originated from folk and olden arts such as Raivaru, a form of traditional poetry, where letters are exchanged to be sung in a certain melody. This album had a big success, followed by its remark with the new few songs he made in 1997, the album was titled Island Pulse and it was recorded in France. The band had a big effect on the local populace, which unofficially claimed it as the saviors of the traditional Dhivehi musical arts and the inventors of new Dhivehi music and another popular band is known as Trio band. Trio band first performed on Dhanberu live concert known as Chaaley song, raarukuga and Ey manjey. Trio band have its own special pattern and it is a young band and later they become boduberu style. Trio band vocal leader is Moosa Shifau. And many other local bands and performances have kept the tradition up. It was assumed that the state supported the radio and TV grew more in favor of the foreign music, when most essential Dhivehi artists began to include political content in their lyrics.  Some of the lyricists include Easa of Sea Child, unofficially considered the Bob Dylan of new Dhivehi music who was jailed for drug related problems. Though Easa is not regarded as professional, many of his songs have been stolen and sung.