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Maldives
Folk Music
Maafathi Neshun
The movements in Maafathi Neshun are similar to Langiri. But
the performers are all women, and they wear national dress.
This is a group dance in which women dance in two rows of
ten. Each performer has a semi circular string which is about
three feet long with artificial flowers attached to it. They
hold the strings and dance in different style in small rows
or groups of two or three displaying different symbols.
Fathigandu Jehun
Fathigandu Jehun is an evening stage music in which a group
of men or a seated single person dance in tune with the songs.
To bring out the sound of music two pieces of bamboo stick
that are about six inches long are held in each hand of all
dancers. The two pieces of sticks on either hand with their
outer side touching each other are then clapped together while
at the same time the dancers show their skills in twisting
their torso in tune with the music and song. There is also
a drummer who beats on a tin and at the same time lead the
song.
In Fathigandu Jehun the songs are usually epics. The story
is narrated in the style of a song and to the beat of the
music. A famous Fathigandu song is "Burunee Raivaru"
which tells the story of a sultan who went in search of a
wife.
Bandiyaa Jehun
It could be said that Bandiyaa Jehun is an adaptation of
Indian pot dance. It is performed only by young women. In
this performance the dancers mark time to the beat on the
metal water pots they carry. In order to produce sufficient
sound, the dancers wear metal rings on their fingers. Although
there is no definite costume, a uniform dress is worn by
the performers which is mostly a long skirt and a blouse,
and today it is usually "Dhigu hedhun", a local
dress.
Today, most of the groups use a number of musical instruments
including drum and harmonica, and the dance is performed
both standing and seated. The costume and music too have
undergone considerable transformations so as to keep pace
with the changing trends.
Kadhaa Maali
This dance, of which the origin is unknown and dates back
a few centuries, survives only in Kulhudhuffushi in south
Thiladhunmathi Atoll. The performance is initiated by the
beating of a number of drums and a "Kadhaa", an
instrument made up of a copper plate and a copper rod.
With the music which is emanated from the beating of the drums
and the Kadhaa, a large number of people usually about 30
men, dressed in different postures and costumes, take part
in the dance. The costumes depict different types of evil
spirits and ghosts. These evil spirits or ghosts are referred
to as "Maali".
The dance is associated with the traditional congregation
of the elders of the island who practise a late night walk
around the island to ward off the evil spirits believed to
be associated with terrible sickness and epidemics prevalent
in the island community. The midnight walking usually begins
after the late evening prayer, would continue for three consecutive
nights and on the third night as to mark the end of the working
the island community will engage in different types of music
and dancing. This is a prelude to Kadhaamaali which is the
final and the major event of the night.
While Kadhaamaali is being performed, people of different
trades will come to the venue on a group by group basis bringing
along with them their instruments, displaying their skill
and craftsmanship in the form of a dance. Once their performance
is over they would simply go leaving the Kadhaamaali dancers
who would continue dancing until it was all over by about
midnight.
At present Kadhaamaali is performed only during festivals.
But, even now in times of terrible sickness the dance is still
performed after the "three night walking".
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