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Maldives
Culture
Ethnicity
The origins of the Maldivian people are shrouded in mystery.
The First settlers may well have been from Sri Lanka and Southern
India. Some say Aryans, who sailed in their reed boats from
Lothal in the Indus Valley about 4,000 years ago, probably
followed them. Archeological evidence suggests the existence
Hinduism and Buddhism before the country embraced Islam in
1153 A.D.Not surprisingly, the faces of today’s Maldivian
display the features of various faces that inhabit the lands
around the Indian Ocean shipping and maritime routes, the
Maldives has long been a melting pot for African, Arab and
South East Asian mariners.
Language
The language of the Maldivians is Dhivehi, a language which
is placed in the Indro-Indian group of languages. Dhivehi
with its roots in Sanskrit and according to some researchers
Elu, an ancient form of Sinhala, (spoken in Sri Lanka), is
strongly influenced by the major lanuguages of the region.
The language has been influenced heavily from Arabic since
the advent of the Islam in 1153 and English in more recent
times, especially since the introduction of English as a medium
of education in the early 1960s.
Given the wide dispersion of islands it is not surprising
that the vocabulary and pronunciation vary from atoll to atoll,
with the difference being more significant in the dialects
spoken in the southernmost atolls.
The Maldivian script known as thaana was invented during the
16th century soon after the country was liberated from Portuguese
rule. Unlike former scripts thaana is written from right to
left. This was devised to accommodate Arabic words that are
frequently used in Dhivehi. There are 24 letters in the thaana
alphabet.
Dhivehi Phrases
| English
Phrases |
Dhivehi
Phrases |
| Hello
(formal) |
Assalaamu
Alaikum |
| Hello
(informal) |
Kihineh? |
| How
are you? |
Haalu
kihineh? |
| Yes |
Aan |
| No |
Noon |
| Where? |
Kobaa? |
| Why? |
Keevve? |
Family Life
The close-knit island communities practice mutual aid to survive
difficult circumstances. A system of extended families provide
a safety net for members of a family going through a difficult
period. In addition to the parents other members of the family
also contribute in the care of children. Traditionally men
go out fishing during the day and women are responsible to
look after the affairs of the family and vary often the community.
This remains so even today in smaller island communities.
Religion
Since Maldives embraced Islam in 1153, Islam has been central
to the life of Maldivians. The main events and festivalss
of Maldivian life follow the Muslim Calendar. From infancy
children are taught the Arabic alphabet. Religious education
is provided both at home and at school. Islam is part of the
school curriculum and is taught concurrently with other subjects.
Food
Maldives being at an important crossroad in the Indian Ocean,
traders and visitors over time have left their mark on Maldivian
cuisine in addition to contributing towards the moulding of
the country’s culture and norms.
As the Maldives comprises more sea than land, it is only natural
that fish (mainly tuna) have always been the most prominent
element of Maldivian food. However, with travelers from different
parts of the world, new seasonings and vegetables were introduced
in to the country and added to the existing (limited) repertoire
of seafood and tubers (e.g. taro & sweet potato). Each
new discovery was incorporated into the diet in quantities
most palatable to Maldivians. Thus Maldivian cuisine now comprises
Arabic, Indian, Sri Lanka and Oriental tastes blended into
a unique cuisine that embodies a culinary identity of its
own.
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