On this Page:

• Summary
• Short History
• People and Society
• National Psyche
• Customs and Traditions
• Media and Internet

Maldives, (officially the Republic of Maldives) is an island group located in the north-central Indian Ocean, 790km southwest of Sri Lanka. It consists of approximately 1190 small coral islands of which 187 are populated. Spanning over 820km from north to south and 130km from east to west, Maldives is one of the most geographically dispersed countries in the world.

The islands are a series of coral atolls that form the crown of an underwater volcanic mountain range. All the islands are low-lying, rising no more than 1.8m above sea level. Barrier reefs form a natural protective barrier against monsoons, high tides, and destructive weather. The Maldives islands are renowned for their sandy beaches, lagoons, and coconut palms together with breadfruit trees and tropical bushes.

Short History

The first confirmed inhabitants of the Maldives were Buddhists who travelled from nearby Sri Lanka and India during the 5th century BCE. 1400 years later in 1153 CE, Buddhist King Dhovemi converted to Islam and adopted the title of Sultan Muhammad al-Adil. He initiated a series of six Islamic dynasties that lasted until 1932 when the sultanate became elective.

The Portuguese briefly established themselves in the Capitol, Male, in 1558 and instigated a brutal campaign to convert the population to Christianity. They were expelled 15 years later in 1573. During the mid-18^th century, the Maldives fell under the protection of the Dutch rulers of Ceylon (Sri Lanka); however, when the British took possession of Ceylon in 1796, the islands became a British protectorate. The arrangement was formalised almost a century later in 1887. As part of the agreement, Sultan Muhammad Mueenuddeen II accepted British influence over Maldivian external relations and defence while he retained autonomy over the country's internal affairs.

In 1953, the First Republic was declared under President Mohamed Amin Didi who was a political reformer and an advocate for education and women's rights. He was ousted and killed by political rivals the same year, and the Sultanate was re-instated.

In 1965, the Maldives attained full political independence from the British. Three years later, a new republic was inaugurated, and the Sultanate was once again abolished. British troops, who had maintained a military presence on the island of Gan, left on March 29, 1976, now celebrated as the country’s Independence Day.

The first President, Ibrahim Nasr, remained in power for 10 years. He is credited with investing heavily in the tourism industry, introducing English in schools, reducing tax, promoting radio and television, and modernising the fisheries industry. After withdrawing from politics, he went into self-exile in Singapore in 1978 and in 1981 was charged with corruption and planning a coup d'état by his successor Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The Gayoom government remained in power for the next 30 years (1978 -2008) and survived three attempted coups in 1980,1983, and 1988. During his presidency, tourism flourished, and the country made significant political reforms.

In 2008 a new constitution was adopted that established greater governmental checks and balances. Greater powers were given to the legislature and judiciary, and women were permitted to run for president.

The 2004 tsunami devastated most of the country with a total damage bill estimated at US400M (62% of GDP). Since this time, climate change with its rising sea levels have been at the forefront of foreign policy and continues to be the greatest threat facing the archipelago. See Hot Topics.

People and Society 

Maldives has a population of 524,000 people, nearly 300,000 of which reside in capitol Male. The local people belong almost entirely to the Maldivian ethnic group, which is a result of various peoples settling on the islands successively through history. Many people originally came from India and Sri Lanka, while others travelled from further afield, including the Middle East and Africa. Intermarriages between these groups over centuries has created a unique culture. The Maldivian language, Divehi, which is only spoken in the Maldives, reflects both Indian and Persian influences, with some Portuguese and English. In addition to Divehi, English is widely spoken and is taught in schools. Tourism has also brought many Europeans to the islands, and it is not unusual for those who work in the tourism industry to speak several European languages.

The Buddhist culture is still very influential and there are many stories and myths that are both supernatural and superstitious. The Maldives is officially an Islamic society, and the government follows the Sharia (laws and practices based on the Quran). Businesses generally close for 15 minutes five times per day to accommodate daily prayers. Nearly all Maldivian locals are Sunni Muslim, although Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity are practiced by expatriates and foreign workers. Following alternative religions is allowed if it is done so privately.

National Psyche

On local islands, communities live closely together and engage in traditional livelihoods such as fishing, carpentry, making handicrafts, and toddy tapping. Specific rituals are observed at occasions like weddings, while in cities like Male, modern cultural influences are more prevalent.

Women have always had an important role in the family and community. In the early history of Maldives, it was not uncommon to have a woman as a Sultana or ruler and it has been suggested that Maldivian society was once a matriarchy. While men typically are the breadwinners of the family, women also hold strong positions in both government and business.

Contact between natives and tourists is somewhat limited, partly to protect the country’s Muslim traditions from outside influences. As a result, most resorts have been built on previously uninhabited islands and locals generally live far away from where they are employed. While staying on local islands was once prohibited, there is a growing trend for tourists to experience the Maldivian way of life as an alternative to the iconic luxury resorts.

Customs and Traditions

Maldivians are known for weaving, ceramics-making, woodcarving, and painting. The rise of tourism has helped revive many traditional crafts, and beautiful, bright-coloured, intricate reed mats are a favourite souvenir for visitors. Music and dancing are also an integral part of Maldivian culture. Indian music, particularly Bollywood, is very popular.

A form of traditional music is known as bodu beru. The term translates as “big drum” and refers to an instrument made from the trunk of a coconut tree that has been hollowed out. The bodu beru is said to have originated in the northern atolls in the 11th century, with some scholars tracing the drum to African settlers.

Toddy Tapping

Ruku Raa, or coconut palm toddy is a sweet, non-alcoholic beverage, likened to nectar in the summer heat. The process of collecting toddy, known as raa verikan (toddy tapping), dates back centuries and was once considered one of the most respected professions. Skilled toddy tappers climb coconut palms and use specially crafted coconut shell containers called gudi to collect the sap. This white, sweet liquid then undergoes a natural fermentation process, transforming into a mildly alcoholic drink: toddy. The liquid can be drunk or boiled and caramelized into a thick, honey-like substance known as dhiya hakuru, used as a sweetener and spread.

The process of collecting the sap is arduous and at times dangerous. The tapper painstakingly climbs the tree and attaches the gudi to the inflorescence of the coconut flower, collecting the sap overnight. In the morning, the liquid is transferred to a larger container called raa badhi, crafted from two or three joined coconut shells. Unfortunately, the art of toddy tapping is slowly fading away. While it once held a significant economic and social role, modernization and changing lifestyles have led to a gradual decline.

Media and Internet 

The Maldives was once renowned as one of the worst countries in Asia for media freedom before President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took office in November 2018. Since then, the country has risen from 120 to 72 in the World Press Freedom Index.

While there have been numerous reforms to expand press freedom and combat violence and intimidation towards journalists, more can be accomplished. In December 2019, the government banned the Maldivian Democracy Network, the country’s leading human rights organization, for allegedly “insulting Islam” – a move that had a chilling effect on other civil society organisations.

State-run media and regulatory bodies, especially the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC), have typically displayed bias in favour of the government and have restricted coverage of the opposition.

In 2022, there were 438,000 internet users comprising 84% of the population. Most people have a mobile phone and 69% of the population use social media.

For more general information about the Maldives, see the resources below:

Video

1. Geography Now! MALDIVES

Articles

1. The Culture Of Maldives – WorldAtlas
2. Maldivians | Encyclopedia.com
3. History of the Maldives | People, Culture, & Facts | Britannica
4. Maldives country profile – BBC News
5. Maldives – The World Factbook (cia.gov)
6. Maldives Press Freedom in Danger | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org)
7. Index | RSF
8. Digital 2024: The Maldives – DataReportal – Global Digital Insights