Author: Aishath Shazra

Alliance Française hosts “new soul voice of Cameroon”, Blick Bassy

Blick Bassy surveyed the tray laden with shorteats and helped himself to some bajiya, gulha and masroshi, at the teashop in the carnival area. Around him fellow musicians John Grandcamp percussionist, Geimbakouyate who plays ngoni and the guitar and Johanbarby the bass guitarist, munched away, happily chatting with the Maldivian musicians who had turned up to their workshop an hour earlier.

“I don’t think it’s too hot, we are used to eating spicy,” says Bassy, referring to his Cameroonian roots when told the food might be too hot for him.

The singer, often hailed as the new soul voice of Cameroon, is in town to perform a music show on Friday night at the request of Alliance Française of Male, before heading off to Sri Lanka to perform there.

He had not known much about Maldives before coming here. “I just knew that Maldives was reputed to be the most beautiful place in the world.”

Bassy started his first band at the age of 17; the band played a fusion of African melodies, jazz and bossa nova. In 1996 he formed a new band called Macase, which had a successful run, releasing two albums in 10 years and winning a host of regional and international awards.

“I wanted to be able to do what I wanted to do,” says Bassy explaining his reasons for leaving the group after 10 years. “In groups you need consensus to do things, going solo is like taking another step, revealing who I am really.”

His first solo album Léman, was released in February 2009 under a Dutch label. The album has been well received in Europe. Bassy is the songwriter, singer, guitarist and percussionist of the album and it connects the music of Central and West Africa with bossa nova, jazz and soul.

“My second album in production now has contemporary African music. It’s a modern vision of Africa through my eyes.”

He explains how with the availability of internet young Africans listen to the same music as young American or English people.

“It’s traditional music colored by other types of music I hear, Brazilian jazz, old soul.”

Tradition is very important to Bassy who sings in his native language Bassa. Despite having lived in France for the last 5 years he says he envisages continuing singing in Bassa.

“Lots of reasons for this, foremost is that there are 250 tribes and languages in Cameroon, but our national language is English and French. If I talk to someone from another tribe we talk in French now to understand each other.”

He says Cameroonian native languages are in the danger of disappearing. “If you lose your language, you lose your culture, tradition and identity.”

Each language colours the music differently. “If you sing to the same tune, a song in two different languages it will sound different because each language’s intonations are different.”

His interest in the native sounds and music of a country is evident. He questions if there is a singular way of singing or music that is Maldivian, and says he has been told of Zero Degree Atoll and is looking forward to listening to it.

When a musician points out that Calbace the Cameroonian drum and boduberu (maldivian drum) have somewhat similar sounds he agrees.

“In Nigeria a drum like boduberu is played and the rhythm is similar to Maldivians.” The band also uses ngoni a guitar like instrument found in Mali and North Cameroon.

Playing traditional instruments is not difficult, he says:“It’s like any other instrument, if you practice its easy.”

Bassy can almost be called a revivalist; he has brought language and traditional elements along with him on his journey, and found a place for them in his music and the modern world.

“You have to be proud of where you come from; it’s a beautiful thing to have. The difference among people is what’s enriching, meeting Maldivians have been so interesting because people of the difference.”

He rues the fact that some youth try to copy the westerners. “You have to think of what you bring to a place, and what your identity is.”

Bassy’s music is a reflection of his philosophy on life itself. A mix of tradition and modern, shaped by his childhood spend in Cameroon and his travels around the globe as an adult.

Asked what kind of music he will be playing tomorrow night, Bassy’s answer is “beautiful music.”

Blick Bassy will perform at Artificial Beach on Friday October 15 from 9:00pm to 11:00pm.

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Q&A: Jonathan Porrit on having faith in the environment

Jonathan Porrit is an eminent writer, broadcaster and commentator on sustainable development and was chairman of the UK sustainable development commission for nine years until he stepped down in July 2009. He is also the founder and director of Forum for the Future, the UK’s leading sustainable development charity. Porrit’s talk at the Eco Symposium, held last week at Soneva Fushi, was on ‘Leadership for a low carbon world’.

Aishath Shazra: What do you think about the leadership the Maldives has shown so far on climate change?

Jonathon Porrit: Given where Maldives located, its economy and its size, the work of President Nasheed is really special, imaginative and has made an impact.

He has woken people up to the reality faced by small islands. Given that the Maldives is not big and affluent, it has made such an impact which is really something.

But like President Nasheed himself noted, delivering on the promises is a different matter. The Maldives faces enormous challenges in becoming carbon neutral by 2020, and the President knows work needs to start soon to have any prospect of getting there.

AS: You have said that governments are going to take minimal action on this issue until the moment comes when total panic ensues, and that the travel and tourism industry is most at risk of fallout. What is the danger?

JP: If governments do what I fear they will do – that is, not much – the impact on long haul tourism will be huge. If the price of fossil fuel increases dramatically people won’t travel because of cost. This will impact countries like the Maldives that are dependent on long haul travel. This event [the Eco Symposium] and all other initiatives are being held so that doesn’t happen. Nobody wants it to happen so it’s better to plan, in a sensible way, rather than panic.

AS: Words are not powerful enough to bring change. You have said even an image as powerful as the underwater cabinet meeting proved ephemeral to some. What would have an impact enough to bring about the desired change?

JP: Matters connecting to people’s cultures, religions, things that matter to people’s lives. Sustainability will only work when it touches people directly.

AS: You have raised the question of why religious and faith leaders don’t get to the forefront of this issue and take leadership in finding solutions. Do you have more faith in religious leaders than politicians?

JP: For politicians only the next few years matters most, the business of getting re-elected. Religious and faith leaders have a much longer term perspective, and a deeper sense of history. It’s easier for them to overcome the ‘short-termism’. It matters to religious leaders that we are stewards of this world.

In the holy world, this was never as powerful or more evident than in the extraordinary period of Islamic history from the 8th century onwards. The connection with nature that manifested in Islamic culture, in arts and architecture was incredibly strong. Prince Charles, who is very well versed on this subject, has written about Islamic history and its approach to the environment.

AS: Ancient civilisations respected boundaries, so where did we start going wrong? And do you think we can we get back to those boundaries?

JP: At the start of the industrial revolution. We thought we could free ourselves of our limits. We started seeing nature as a source of raw materials, so humanity could grow and grow. Nature became an instrument in man’s progress. But I am convinced that if we can get it back, we will get back to the elements and benefit from it.

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Q&A: Mike Mason, founder of Climate Care

Some of the world’s leading environmentalists, energy experts and economists gathered under a thatched roof, barefoot and in shorts for a conference with a difference.

The ‘Eco-Symposium’ took place over the weekend in Soneva Fushi, a luxury resort renown for its green credentials and the first in the Maldives that has pledged to go carbon neutral – by the end of this year.

Set in Baa Atoll, the 100 hectare resort grows most of its own food organically on the island, has banned any use of plastic, and provides guests with drinking water in re-usable glass bottles, produced in the island’s own bottling plant. Guests pay an additional two percent on their bills to help offset their carbon emissions.

The symposium’s stated aim was  to reconcile luxury tourism with environmental sustainability. Soneva Fushi’s owner, Sonu Shivdasani, a long time environmental entrepreneur, says: “We want to present practical solutions that make both business and environmental sense. The tourism industry must realize that reconciling its business with carbon neutrality is a matter of commercial as well as planetary survival.”

Speakers at the Symposium included Jonathan Porrit, Founder and Director of Forum for the Future, Professor Geoffrey Lipman of Unite Nations World Tourism Organisation, Eric Scotto CEO Akuo Energy Group, Jeremy Legget, Founder & Chairman Solarcentury and Mark Lynus, the government’s Climate Change Advisor.

They spoke on issues including surviving climate change and profitable climate solutions, the living building challenge and improving the transportation footprint. Special guest President Mohamed Nasheed spoke on the plans to make Maldives carbon neutral by 2020.

Minivan News spoke to Mike Mason on the sidelines of the eco symposium, following his presentation on ‘Carbon neutral Maldives: foresight or folly’.

Mason is considered a world expert in environmental economics and renewable energy technologies. He is the founder of Climate Care, a voluntary carbon offset company based in UK, which he recently sold to investment bank JP Morgan. For the past six months he has been supervising an Oxford student’s Masters thesis on energy consumption in the islands of Baa Eydhafushi and Baa Maalhos.

Aishath Shazra: When you discuss going carbon neutral with Maldivians from all walks of life, you have said the most you get from them is “that’s interesting”, or “it’s a policy that will come and go.” In lieu of this, how can you change mindsets?

Mike Mason: Nobody wakes up thinking “I want to destroy the planet today.” But a lack of knowledge about low carbon technologies, and in poor countries in particular, a lack of capital, means people find it difficult to switch to renewable technologies. A poor person can’t afford to invest in something [such as solar panels] unless is gives an immediate financial return.

A two part strategy is needed to tackle this. One is by providing the best technical advice to those in power: the government, ministers,island chiefs and so on. And secondly, providing things to win hearts and minds of people, so that local people demand change.

AS: What have you learned from the data collected from Maalhos in Baa Atoll, and what does it suggest in terms of harnessing wind and solar energy?

MM: In the study of Maalhos we learned that we absolutely can make the transition to renewable energy without increasing people’s energy bills. Moreover, we can make people’s lives better in the process, by improving their fridges and cooling their houses.

We have to integrate energy and tax policies. For example, a typical fridge in the Maldives uses 10 times as much electricity as the very best fridges currently available in Europe. This costs the household money, wastes government money in electricity subsidies and damages the environment. The irony of the fridges example is that the cost to the government of changing someone’s fridge is less than the cost of subsidising the electricity the old fridge wastes.

The second thing we learned from Maalhos concerns the choices you need to make in order to provide cheap renewable energy. For example, if you only want 30 percent of your electricity to be renewable, you can do it mainly with wind, rather than solar. But if you aim to power an island with 90 percent renewable energy, you need to use all solar and very little wind.

We have to understand these issues, and work out what targets we want to hit, before we spend a lot of money on equipment.

Participants at the Eco-Symposium, including Mike Mason and President Mohamed Nasheed

AS: Will the scattered islands of Maldives make it a challenge to use renewable energy or can we have a one-size-fits-all solution for the islands?

MM: The scattered islands of the Maldives are not a problem in going for renewables. Renewable energy is naturally distributed and there are so few advantages to connecting isolated islands. Each island can generate its own renewable energy.

However, there are exceptions, such as where islands are densely populated, and there is no room to put up all the energy harvesting equipment that is needed, such as solar panels. In these cases we have to go for an off-island solution and possibly an electricity grid [connecting islands to one another].

Male’, for instance, should have a grid linking Thilafushi, Vilingilli, Male’ and Hulhumale’. There may be other areas in the Maldives where an electricity grid is advisable.

AS: There is no income tax in the Maldives; the government imposes import duty on goods. You have said that this could prove to be our greatest national asset on our road to carbon neutrality, how is that?

MM: Everyone in the world who is an expert in this area says one has to tax the ‘bad’ and not the ‘goods’. The Maldives has an interesting tax regime that can be used to steer people towards buying better equipment, by varying import duties depending on whether an appliance is energy efficient or not.

AS: You have said that the Maldives’ most immediate danger is not climate change but our acute vulnerability to oil price shocks. Can you explain that?

MM: In the next 10 years, the world economy is likely to grow by the same amount as it did in every year until 2010. China, India, Indonesia… these countries are experiencing tremendous growth. Economic growth is always accompanied by oil demand and oil prices have risen 10 times over the last 40 years. We have now discovered most of earth’s oil, and we are unlikely to discover new oil as fast as new demands grow. When demand exceeds supply, prices rocket. What happened two years ago [when oil prices reached US$150 per barrel], was a warning for what could happen in the future.

AS: What are the benefits for ordinary people in a country going carbon neutral?

MM: Shifting to renewable energy means you are no longer exposed to the risk of oil price shocks. It means the Maldives no longer has to worry about going bankrupt because of oil price spikes. This is as much a benefit for the government as it is for the people. Put environmental considerations aside; the Maldives should go carbon neutral for economic and energy security reasons.

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Tourism threatens to overwhelm mantas and whale sharks of Hanifaru Bay

In most places a 260 percent increase in tourist arrivals would be a cause for celebration. Not so for Hanifaru Bay.

Located off the uninhabited island of Hanifaru in Baa Atoll, the bay is a small enclosed reef the size of a football field. But what makes Hanifaru Bay unique and attracts tourists is the phenomena that occurs during the south west monsoon from May to November.

Interplay between the lunar tide and the south west monsoon enables build up of a massive concentration of plankton, which in turn attracts hundreds of huge manta rays and gigantic whale sharks. It’s usual to see up to 200 manta rays in a feeding frenzy, accompanied by whale sharks. The bay is one of the two sites in Maldives which acts as a cleaning station as well as feeding site for whale sharks.

Hanifaru Bay was declared a Marine Protected site last year by the government, in recognition of its importance in the ecosystem. When the bay was featured in National Geographic magazine last year, and a BBC Natural World documentary this year, the site’s fame spread all over the world.

Price of fame

“Sometimes we see up to 14 boats crammed into that little space,” says Mohamed Fathuhy, island chief of nearby Dharavandhoo.

He rues the fact that sometimes snorkelers and divers in the bay outnumber the animals.

Regulations announced by the Ministry of Environment on making the bay an MPA say that only five boats can engage in the area at any given time. It also limits the number of swimmers or divers to 80 at any one time.

However Fathuhy says  some visitors to try and touch the animals. Safari boats sometimes take money from tourists saying there is a charge for snorkeling in the area. And overcrowding is so bad that crews of visiting safari boats and others had almost come to blows over access.

Ahmed Sameer, general secretary of Youth Association of Kamadhoo, another island nearby, says his co-islanders share the concern: “We are worried that if this goes on, the animals might stop coming and the place might be destroyed.”

Asked why the interest in Hanifaru Bay, Sameer says that Kamadhoo islanders have always been a very eco-conscious people.

“Every household in the island recently signed a pact to not harvest turtle eggs or take turtles, and participate in the turtle conservation project by Four Seasons,” he explains.

Concerned and galvanised into action by the efforts of Seamarc, an environmental consultancy firm, and Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, Fathuhy and Sameer is a part of a delegation that visited the Environment Ministry yesterday to share their concern and to suggest co-management of the site.

Cries of a community

The delegation consisted of representatives from the islands of Dhonfanu,Dharavandhoo,Thulhadhoo and Kamadhoo. Province minister Ali Niyaz, Dhonfanu Councillor, Director General of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Mohamed Zuhair, Mari Saleem of SEAMARC, Guy Stevens of Maldives Manta Ray Project and Executive members of Liveaboard Association Shaheena Ali and Fayaz Ismail attended the meeting alongside Minister of Environment Mohamed Aslam and Deputy Minister Mohamed Shareef.

Marie a passionate advocate of co management said “Baa atoll community would like to work with the government to help implement the regulations in place.”

“A cross section of the people in the atoll as well as stakeholders in the tourism industry, support the initiative to develop and manage Hanifaru Bay sustainable.”

The figures in Fathuhy’s presentation was impressive.

“Manta ray tourism generates an estimated US$8.1 million annually,” Fathuhy explained. Hanifaru Bay alone is estimated to generate US$ 500,000 in direct revenue for Maldivian economy this year.

A discussion ensued over wheather Baa Atoll could retain the revenues and the danger of the animals deserting the area if things continued as they were.

Some alterations to the existing regulations were proposed such as penalties for those who don’t adhere to regulations: having a fine for those coming into contact with the animals, and banning speedboats and boats with un-protected outboard engines, as well as implementing a compulsory certification system for guides and boat captains working there, and banning scuba diving in the vicinity.

Way forward

With Minister Aslam admitting that central government had difficulties in managing the MPA as well as other protected dive sites, the question arose over how best to go about it.

The lack of  wardens or an effective system of policing the area is an acute problem in Maldives concerning MPA’s.

Hence the  group discussed ways of managing the site, government or EPA managing it, going for a business model or a community based one.

The idea of forming a corporative found the most supporters with Aslam saying that “it’s a structured way of doing it as the laws are also already in place.”

Ismail and Shaheena from Liveaboard association were adamant that government had to play a major role in managing the site.

Shaheena pointed out that it would be unfair if any group got ownership of the place. “The process can’t be too democratic.”

“Tourists that hire speedboats from Male and go to that area will be disappointed if they can’t have access to the area.”

The delegation from Baa Atoll went back to their respective communities at the behest of Aslam to draw and propose a practical plan to manage the area.

While Baa Atoll community and the government try and figure out the best way to manage the area, the future of Hanifaru Bay hangs in balance along with its seasonal inhabitants.

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Bride fair showcases local talent

Each year hundreds of tourists hold wedding ceremonies on the pristine beaches of Maldives. Though existing regulations do not allow non-Muslims to marry in the country, tourists can’t resist the temptation of holding ‘mock’ wedding ceremonies against the backdrop of azure lagoons and white beaches.

The ceremony is often Maldivian, with traditional boduberu drummers providing the music for the occasion. The grooms look dashing in shirts while the brides are dazzling in wedding gowns.

Alas the clothes are imported much the time, despite the fact that there are very good Maldivian designers and tailors capable of making unique ‘one-off’ gowns.

The bride fair recently held at Dharubaaruge aimed to bridge that gap.

“We’d like Maldivian designers and tailors to be able to showcase their talents to the tourists who hold wedding ceremonies here,” said Mohamed Shafi, Managing Director of Bride Maldives company which organised the fair.

Wedding masquerade

The Bride Fair aims to be a one-stop place for those looking to tie the knot. Every aspect of the big day was covered by one of the stalls present.

Caterers like Juways and Salsa Catering had stalls.

“We have special menus for weddings and can cater different cuisines like Chinese or Indian depending on the request,” says Ibrahim Amir, Managing Director of Salsa catering.

His participation at the fair was intended to create more awareness and with five bookings to cater for weddings and 37 ‘potentials’ just in one evening, he deems the fair a success.

Brides to be seems to be the main visitors to the fair: “99 percent of the girls who enquire at our stall say they are about to get married,” he observes.

“Weddings involve a lot of things, and even when the bride and groom go for their photo shoot they are still unhappy or stressed out over some thing,” says Shafi,who is confident the fair has helped prospective married couples find all the services they need.

“Locally only two or three [designers] are well known, so we want to showcase unique and talented individuals to the local as well as international market.”

That talent is very much evident at Saadha Ali’s stall.

A diploma holder in fashion designing from Sri Lanka, at Ali’s stall three gowns take pride of place. One with a bodice made up of ties, striped and plain, tapering off towards the waist and held in place by huge orange roses. A white gown has paper birds on its skirt, while an eye-catching orange gown shows that Saadha can dabble in ordinary materials as well as unusual ones.

Not all gowns on display are locally made. Wedding planner Bridal Boutiques showcases an ethereal white gown, imported, and so are the gowns on display at another wedding planner, El Momento.

“In future we would like to work with a local, but to avoid the stress of chasing after a designer we are starting off with imported gowns,” says Hudha Haleem, El Momentos director. With their showrooms in the process of being finished, Hudha says the fair is giving them ample exposure.

“All the gowns are not locally made – we also want to cater for those who can’t afford designer gowns or who get married in haste,” Shafi explains, pointing out that there are Maldivian companies in the business.

In a country where marriages often take place less than three months after the decision, ready-made gowns are also much in demand.

For those looking to venture into the lucrative wedding cake business, EFFES institute stall gave information on their courses, where you can learn basic cake-making in just two weeks.

Even gyms like Heat and Male’ Fitness Centre have stalls, where one can see young women inquiring.

“We mostly get girls who come and enquire about our ready made fitness programs for couples,” says the girl at the MFC stall. Even though a poster on the wall offers three distinct types of fitness programmes for the couple, she says mostly the man declines saying “it’s just for the girl.”

A male staff member of MFC promises that the changes will be evident on the wedding day if one enrolls in the three month programme.

One of the visitors to the stall turns to her female friend and says she “needs to get rid of the flab around my waist.”

As promised, the stalls at Bride Fair covered every aspect of the big day.

Grooms had mohican hair styles

Runway Brides

The highlight of the fair however seems to be the runway show, with photographers jostling for a good view alongside spectators throng to the catwalk podium once it starts.

Shamla is easily the most famous wedding gown designer in Maldives, and showcases her collection first. It’s impossible to get a good view of it.

The crowd settles a bit. Next, Aishath Roza’s collection, modeled to the theme song of Bride Fair ‘Forever bride to be’ by singer Unoosha.

Her collection diverges from the classic white gown, to include a maroon gown with a crunched skirt. An off shoulder gown with a chequered bodice of black, white and maroon and a golden gown with a ruffled skirt, and of course one white gown.

Saadha Ali’s collection is colourful, bright orange and blue wedding gowns give way to light pink and purple ones, a row of red flowers snaking down the bodice of the white gown gives it a pop of colour. Men make an appearance in shirts with pleating details on the front, however its their hair cut in a Mohican fashion, with blue colourings and a pony tail at the back that grab attention. Screams of appreciation fill the air when child models appear on the runway, the boys with the Mohican cut while the little girls sports flowers.

Colours give way to white gowns for the collection titled Venus by Naisha Ibrahim. The gowns are sleek, with detailing like silver bow ties on the bodice, ruffled full skirts, and flowers of earthy colours. Complimenting the gowns is the hair, pulled back and in a bun, with hers  a slight re-working of the classic white gown. The models are breathtakingly beautiful and carry the wedding dresses well.

“All the designs showcased on the runway are made locally by Maldivian designers,” says Nuha.

The sheer variety of the gowns would leave a bride-to-be spoiled for choice. The Bride Fair seemed to be a success both in terms of showcasing local talents and providing a place for would be brides to get help in planning the big day.

Photos: Mahrouf Khaleel

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The Grand Finale

Maldivians and Indians streamed through the doors of Dharubaruge last night for the grand finale of the The India-Maldives Friendship Festival 2010.

The chief guest was Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed, accompanied by his wife Madam Ilham Hussain. They were welcomed by the Indian High Commissioner Dnyaneshwar Mulay before the commencement of the event.

Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz and Special Envoy of the President Mr Ibrahim Hussain  Zaki also graced the event.

An Indian girl, Hibaa Himnat, rendered a faultless recitation of the Quran to start off the ceremony.

After greeting the attendees in English, Hindi and Dhivehi, High Commissioner Mulay noted that people from all walks of life were present: “We have poets, engineers, philosophers, doctors and teachers here, is there anyone we don’t have?”

Mulay expressed regret that opposition party members rarely attended events despite the invitations sent out by the High Commission.

“Our governments alone cannot be the driving force for the relations between two countries,” he pleaded, adding that it was imperative that “good relations exist between people to people be it on a business level, cultural and even on a philosophical level.”

Mulay noted that recorded history showed that relations between Maldives and India existed “beyond 2500 years.” He promised that he would do all he could to further and maintain the cordial relationships between the two countries.

Looking dapper in a striped shirt, Dr Waheed spoke next. He said it was most likely India had the highest number of Maldivian students studying abroad, and also noted the amount of trade between the two countries and said “this is made possible because of the leadership of both countries.”

He congratulated Mulay and chairman of India club Vijay Jasuja for their work, and extended Independence Day greetings. “Both countries have much to celebrate,” he said, “as we have made enormous progress since independence.”

Good relations between the two countries would continue because India and Maldives were two friends whose destiny was intertwined, he said.

CEO of India Bank and current chairman of India club Vijay Jasuja thanked Dr Waheed for the help he and the government had extended to the club over the last two years.

The India Club was formally registered as an NGO in 2008 and has since then been active in conducting humanitarian events, such as free medical and blood donation camps, along with social and entertainment activities.

Indian and Maldivian Music

After token gifts of appreciation was presented to Maldivian band 911 and Punjabi Indian Surindra Sagar by Mulay and Dr Waheed, the show began.

The Police band 911 started out with a romantic Maldivian ballad with two members on stage before the rest of the six appeared. A bit more flair and ineraction with the audience would have made their performance more enjoyable. The classic Maldivian song “Meygaavi ali kuri noorakee” was followed by a rendition of a modified version of the evergreen Hindi song “Mausam masthaana” by the only female member of the group.

Surindra Sagar and troupe joined next, with the musicians playing “Dum maro dum” as their introductory piece. Surindra Sagar, colourful in black and pink, rendered a Punjabi song “ Dama dum mast calendar.”

What followed was bhangra dances by the troupe, women dressed in yellows and pinks and blues, with the turbaned men evoking the Punjab with their enthusiastic moves.

The Bollywood songs which resonate with most Maldivians and Indians were absent, however the night’s dances and songs created an exciting atmosphere and brought an enjoyable end to the finale of the India Maldives Friendship festival 2010.

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“Woodstock of the mind” coming to the Maldives

Imagine Ian McEwan, author of Atonement, performing a reading or participating in a panel discussion on a beach in a Maldivian island.

That is exactly what Hay Festival Maldives promises to do.

Famously described as “the Woodstock of the mind” by former US President Bill Clinton, the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts is among the most famous literary festivals in the world.

And for the first time, the festival is going to be held in Maldives from October 14-17 this year.

The festival is Europe’s largest literary and arts festival, which started in the sleepy village of Hay-on Wye in Wales – a village made famous for having the highest ratio of bookshops to inhabitants with over 30 bookshops for its population of 1,846.

Over the last few years the Hay Festival has gone global and now holds Festivals each year in Lebanon, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Kenya and India, with the Maldives the latest to join the list.

Hay in the Maldives

“The Maldives has gained fame in the world for its beaches and the sea, with this festival we hope to showcase the 2000 year old rich cultural heritage of the Maldives to the world,” says Xiena Saeed, Hay Festival Volunteer.

At the press conference announcing the Hay Festival Maldives, Xiena said she hopes that the festival will help start a vibrant literary and arts culture in the Maldives.

In keeping with the Hay tradition of fostering the exchange of ideas, the festival will bring together local and international writers, thinkers, musicians, filmmakers and scientists.

An exciting line-up of local and international artists promise to make the first Hay Maldives a memorable one.

Confirmed artists so far include well known local personality and writer Ogaru Ibrahim Waheed, and Fathimath Nahula, film director and writer of several screenplays and books.

They will speak alongside internationally famous authors like Ian McEwan, and historian and biographer Jung Chang, author of Wild Swans and Mao.

With the growth of Hay Festival audience over the last 23 years from 1,000 people in Hay to 28,000 visitors on four continents each year, the festival is very conscious of the impact it has on the environment.

“In 2006 we started the Greenprint Project to audit our impacts and put in place actions to improve our sustainability,” says Andy Fryers, Project Director Hay Festival Maldives and Director of Greenprint.

The objectives of Greenprint are firstly to reduce the direct impacts of the Festival, and secondly to help the visiting public to reduce their own impacts, and thirdly, to programme debates, conversations and lectures, educating people about sustainability and stimulate action.

Andy says “the Maldives Festival follows similar lines to our other Festivals but with a stronger emphasis on the environment given the likely climate change impacts on the islands.”

This is reflected in the line up of environmental writers and campaigners like Montagu Don, Tim Smit – the businessman who founded the Eden project, the largest green house in the world – Mark Lynas, activist and author of several books on climate change including the acclaimed Six Degrees, and Chris Gorell-Barnes.

Musicians like popular band Fasy live and Mauritian-born electronic fusion artist Ravin,have been roped in to perform at the event.

As more artists are in the process of being confirmed, Xiena says “We would like to invite local writers and artists to get in touch with us if they are keen to participate in the festival.”

“This would be a good platform for local artists to showcase their talent and become known to a global audience .”

Festival Programme

The three-day festival will kick-start with a performance of live bands at Carnival grounds in Male at 7:00pm on 14th October.

It will then move on to the presidential retreat island of Aarah.

“We will start the next day’s programmes after Friday prayers at Aarah,” says Xiena.

Panel discussions and debates will take place at Aarah for the next two days. This will be a rare opportunity for the public to gain access to Aarah, as it had been used as a presidential retreat since the 50s.

“Aarah was chosen as its a suitable venue near the capital, we want to ensure that it is easy for Maldivians and tourists to to mingle freely and celebrate the arts and culture Maldives.”

On the last day of the festival on the 17th, writers and artists’ workshop will be held in schools and colleges to encourage a new generation of artists.

Later on with National Centre for the Arts (NCA), which is facilitating the holding of the festival, Hay Festival Maldives plans to develop a rolling programme of workshops for this year and next.

Xiena explains that “The workshops will teach children and young people to interview their parents and grandparents, to gather and record legends and stories and experiences of life in the Maldives over the past century.”

The stories are to be collected in a huge online library to be launched at the second Hay Festival Maldives 2011.

A limited number of tickets are being sold keeping in mind the capacity of each venue.

2000 tickets will be available for the music show that will be launching the festival.

“1000 tickets will be sold for each day at Aarah, because that is the capacity of the island,” informs Xiena.

The tickets will be sold from the first week of September at NCA, and Xiena promises “the tickets will be at an affordable price for the locals, as we want a high participation from Maldivians.”

The event will also be marketed to tourists – at a different price than locals – however with the Hay Festival being a non-profit organisation tickets will remain reasonably-priced, organisers claim.

Hay Festival Maldives promises to be an exciting literary and arts event, the first major cultural festival to be held in the Maldives in recent times, and one not to be missed.

The participating Maldivian artists are currently being programmed, if you wish to be considered please send details to [email protected]. If you would like more information about the festival please drop by the festival desk at Olympus Theater between 21:00pm to 23:00pm.

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Huvafen grooves to Charles Schillings beats

A sense of anticipation filled the air. Dozens of stars twinkled in the sky, while lamps hanging from the trees and soft lighting at the tables gave the beach of Huvafen Fushi a warm glow last Friday.

People lounged about in the ultra comfortable seats, casting glances at the DJ console standing almost at the edge of the deck that stretches out to the sea.

At Huvafen Fushi, a luxury retreat managed by Per AQUUM Retreats, high end luxury and top notch service blends with the stunning natural beauty of the island.

World Famous French DJ Charles Schillings is the star of the evening. Dressed casually in a black T-shirt and cut-off jeans, Schillings arrived, stopping to chat with those present along the way.

Despite being one of the top names in the world of DJing, and with three self-produced albums to his name, Schillings comes across as an extremely down to earth guy, interacting with those who stop by his console, and grooving to the music he plays.

Artists as diverse as Prince, Jackson 5, Lenny Krevitz, Dustry Springfield, Black Eyed Peas and Beatles are played alongside lesser known names.

He blends different genres and different epoques of music as effortlessly as a master weaver would weave a tapestry.

Under the starry night DJ Schillings played, giving a whole new ambience to the island resort.

Minivan News obtained an exclusive interview with DJ Schillings.

Aishath Shazra (AS): When did you first become interested in music?

Charles Schillings (CS): I was watching a Jackson 5 cartoon back in the 70s and a DJ was performing and Michael Jackson was dancing to his tunes. I was nine then and I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

AS: Which musicians have influenced you over the years?

CS: I grew up listening to various genres of music and bands, and especially the ones from the early 1980s from the post-Punk period. I was mostly inspired by Talking Heads, Shriekback, Depeche Mode, Karftwerk and the Jackson 5.

AS: You are renowned for reading the pulse of the audience, and your ability to keep them on the floor – what’s your secret?

CS: I keep the venue, the party’s theme and the surroundings in mind. I also experiment with different genres depending on the mood of the crowd. The most important thing is to see and gauge the crowd’s reaction and then zero in on the music I want to play! Funky and groovy elements with a lot of contemporary tunes.

I am also not afraid to surprise my audience as inside my music people may find a beat or a sound to relate to. Watching people move their shoulders tell me a lot too!

AS: Are you familiar with any Maldivian music, and if so, what are the chances of it (Maldivian music) making it into your playlist, or one of your mixes?

CS: I’ve been to Huvafen Fushi for the last four years now and I’ve been introduced to the beats of the Bodu Beru. I find this really the most interesting cultural expression of music and would love to work with it one day. I have heard of Zero Degrees too, but have never met them in person.

AS: You have said Maldives is one of your favourite places to perform, why is that?

CS: Huvafen Fushi is like my second home. Performing in the Maldives is like nothing else out there. I’m closest to the people here, it’s very personal and I have amazing interaction with the crowd. I also play under the stars with the beach literally at my feet, so I’m not complaining!

AS: Having played all over the world, do audience expectations vary in different cities? Where would you say is the best place to DJ?

CS: It’s not the place really that defines an expectations. It’s the crowd, the people that attend my parties that makes the difference. It’s their harmony and my music that brings it all together. So no matter where I am, being with my audience is the best place to be.

AS: Being a sound designer to Karl Lagerfield, spinning for famous designer’s events, to playing at hip clubs around the world, to playing in front of thousands in cities like Tokyo, and London, what has been your most memorable event so far?

CS: Actually, one day while mixing at a Karl Lagerfeld fashion show, I was asked to allow someone into my DJ booth. Now, that is a request I usually entertain. But I agreed this time and to my surprise, it was Mick Jagger! He stayed with me for the whole show.

Kylie Minogue also requested a song from me when I was playing at Dita Von Teese’ birthday last year, that’s definitely memorable. But the most memorable to date is when I met my girlfriend, Sophie, at Lotus in New York eight years ago.

AS: You’ve been DJing, compiling albums, producing and making your own songs, and now producing the soundtrack for a sci-fi movie. What’s next?

CS: I would really like to mix the soundtrack to a big Hollywood movie.

AS: How would you describe your latest album “Like a Radio”? How’re are you feeling about it?

CS: ‘Like a Radio’ has many firsts for my, my first experience with pop, working with only one vocal was also a first for me and it was also my very first double album. 14 tracks on the first CD and 14 remixes of the tracks on the other. It’s really quite interesting to hear how the tracks sound on radio and the remix sound at a party.

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‘Dough Head’ exhibition rises to occasion

How does it feel to have an 8 kilogram lump of dough on your head? The 99 participants of the Dough Portrait series has the answer to that question.

The Dough portraits are the first of their kind to be held in Maldives, features people of all ages and sizes. The one common theme found in the photographs? The lump of dough that covers their faces.

“I wanted to remove the barriers that exist between the person and art,” says Søren Dahlgaard, the artist behind this innovative concept.

A universal medium

Friends and family members of the artist, as well as people who passed in front of the art gallery last year in July, were asked to pose for the portraits.

“I find the process of creating the portraits with the people the most interesting” says Dahlgaard, adding that it’s a very democratic process. Democratic it is – the photos of all those who participated finding a place on the wall of the gallery.

The posers are invited to play with and mold the dough before placing it on their heads.

Some found the dough cold, others say their heads wobbled under the weight of it.

The participants seem to have different reactions to it. Nihama, 24, sits calm and composed, with a lump of dough on her face, as if saying ‘I won’t bat an eyelid.’ Manih,32 is more reflective, doing his own version of David the thinker, a hand holding his dough covered chin. Hassan, 23 and nonchalant, holds a boduberu in his hands, the lengthening dough reaching for it.

“It’s my sculpture material,” says Dahlgaard of the dough, adding that he likes the universality of dough: “Here it’s made into roshi, in Italy it becomes pizza, in India it’s a naan and in France it’s a croissant.”

Sculpture materials like marble and bronze last for 100’s of years, but the dough does not even last a day.

“Photos are also taken quickly as the dough might fall off.”

A question of identity

Some of the earliest paintings were those of portraits commissioned by the rich and the ruling elite, as an everlasting memory.

The focal point of a portrait has always remained the face, with the measure of how good it is being judged by how well an artist can capture the expression or the mood of the person.

Dahlgaard’s photos are a new way of looking at portraits, where the face, the primary identifying feature of a person is hidden.

“The face does not have much to do with the personality, the face is like a mask,” he says.

And yet the mask is not static. The dough changes on 16 year-old Marina’s head, it looks like an inverted bucket with rough edges. On Hajja,21, it seems like a living breathing thing, about to engulf her. On Samfa,63, it seems to mimic her hands, pointing one finger forward.

“The shape always changes, even if you don’t try, the dough moves on its own and changes.”

Just like a face, the way the dough falls seems to give the person a unique identity.

An unusual journey

Like his art, Dahlgaard’s journey to being a full time artist is also unusual. After finishing his studies from the Slade School of Fine Arts in London, Dahlgaard – who comes from Copenhagen in Denmark –  spent two years in Maldives doing a pilot project in farming.

“My wife is Maldivian, and I felt my children would benefit from living in the Maldives for a while.”

Realistically, Dahlgaard says he knew that it would not be possible to make a living creating art straight out of art school.

So he grew vegetables in Hibalhidhoo, an uninhabited island in Baa Atoll while nursing a hidden agenda: “I wanted to create an artists-in-residence island.”

He gave up the idea as it needed too high an investment. “But farming was a challenge and needed creativity as in all jobs.”

Dahlgaard moved back to Copenhagen and entered the art scene. His dough portraits were first produced and exhibited in the National Art Gallery in Denmark in 2008, before moving on to Kosovo and Maldives.

The project will move to eight different locations around the world. “I would like to do the dough portraits and cover famous faces of Hollywood.”

Dahlgaard identifies with the Japanese Avante-Garde group Gutai, active in the 1950’s. Their theme of decay and destruction he says “ is only an element in my way of thinking.” It’s more their approach to making art active that is the mainstay of Dahlgaard’s work.” It’s things like running through canvases, throwing paint, the act of reducing the barrier between people and art.”

As such all of Dahlgaard’s work invites participation: “The Breathing Room”, showcased in Rohde Contemporary in Copenhagen and at the Singapore Biennale in 2008, is a white room. A living breathing room – with walls made of soft pvc canvas, it changes into convex and concave shapes mimicking human breathing.

His next project for Maldives involves the famous portrait painter ‘the dough worrier.’ “I’d like to video the dough worrier in a Maldivian island.”

Strapped with 70 baguettes all over his body and face, Dahlgaard is the worrier that pours paint on to a participant, before clicking a photo.

“It’s the frustrated artist, trying to make a masterpiece.”

But before that Maldives will be transported to Denmark. A documentary about Dahlgaard’s brief foray into farming will be showcased in his home country.

In January, when it will be minus 10 degrees in Copenhagen, “the art center is going to be heated to Maldivian temperature and humidity.” Chilli and tomato plants will be grown, while a replica of Dahlgaard’s office will be re-created there.

In Dahlgaard’s world everyday items become part of art, and the viewer is invited to join in instead of looking from afar.

Dough Portraits will be exhibited at the National Art Gallery until August 10, 2010.

NAG will be open on weekdays from 11:00am to 16:00pm and from 20:00pm to 23:00pm.

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