Residents of Addu are scandalised after hip-hop dance classes were given to young people in Addu Atoll.
Locals have called for the “bodu beru†and hip-hop dance classes organised by the National Centre for Arts to stop, saying the dances are not religiously acceptable. The classes, which teach people how to hip-hop dance and play musical instruments, began on January 14 and have received mixed reviews from residents.
During the inauguration ceremony of the classes at Muhibbudeen School hall, many residents protested outside, chanting ‘Allah Akbar’- God is great and telling participants they were going to hell.
“Residents were protesting, saying that they cannot carry out their classes there. But the President of the Feydhoo Women’s Committee came out and said that if the dancers were going to go to hell, kindly leave them to go to hell,†said an eyewitness, who asked to remain anonymous.
Some then carried on protests outside classes held at the S. Maradhoo/Feydhoo vocational centre, holding banners saying such activities should be stopped.
“We do not mind if they carry out their fun and games at some other place, like in one of the atoll’s uninhabited islands. We provided the funds to build the vocational centre from our own pockets so it belongs to the residents of the island,†said a resident who did not want to disclose his name.
Some protesters claimed women participants of the “bodu beru†class were told to wear outfits that were “as tight and short as possible.†Some buruqa clad women were also asked to wear shorts under the same guidance, protesters said.
Members of the NCA team did not attend the centre due to the protests. Demonstrators were eventually sent home after police intervened.
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