Words by Imthishal Mohamed

This indie band is made up of 5 close friends; Sippe’, Hussain, Azey’, Raape’ and Faya, not to forget the talented cinematographer who works her magic behind the scenes. Dhahau, without whose dedication and deep contribution Naaba’s success might not have been possible.

Furthermore, “Naaba” is in its definition a calling using a Boduberu groove or beat; however, there is more to it than that. The word has connotations to Maldivian folklores, in addition to its numerous purposes in the past. According to the mythological point of view, legend has it that decades ago it  was used “so that the sea demon will not arise as long as this beat is played” It was traditionally played daily right after sunset.

Staying true to their blood the band’s music revolves around the origin of their shared passion. Boduberu; which in translation means “big drum”. It is a traditional Maldivian instrument that soon evolved into a genre of music cherished by every local. More significantly, it is clear the basis of Naaba’s unique sound is Boduberu, but what gives it that extra flare is how they play around with this holy groove. Their music is orchestrated with instruments from diverse locations, invented within the space of centuries ago and centuries ahead.

The band embraces all cultures and their distinguish sounds, one could say they are even inspired by it as it is portrayed through the use of instruments such as the didgeridoo and didgerebone, developed by the Australian aboriginal people. In addition, they also incorporate instruments such as flute, hangdrum, and an ukulele’ with a body made from tuna fish can. The cocktail of Naaba’s sound does not stop there, the band does not forsake the beauty of modern music, as they integrate their sound with the guitars, drum kit, keyboards, electronic sounds and countless more.

Naaba Island Vibes continues to experiment with their music with a sound like no other that is in its own a “world-fusion” never heard before.

The tight knit group express their thoughts through their music and do not take for granted the gifts they have to create such music; “We will not sing about 1000 story buildings, we will not sing  about submarines, but we will sing about fishing or change of environment, how we love the sea, and  how we should love the sea because we eat from the sea yet we do not respect it. Such is the message we would love to give.”

In the advance world we live in it is not easy to find old footage or documentations of any form of art. One of Naaba’s objectives is to change this; “when we wanted to dig into the roots it was very limited in terms of materials we could see on the internet or books”. Only a handful of recordings of old Maldivian music have survived through the past decade and those that have pushed through have neither a title to it nor the name of the artists behind the masterpiece.

“A lot of research is put into this project”; the band continues to travel from island to island, talking to the locals, playing on their shores and getting a deeper insight into Maldivian culture that seems to be fading away gradually. Naaba aims to preserve as much as possible for as long as possible; “(the generation before us) they have passed on a beautiful thing, a very unique thing, and it’s very limited”.

“We are making music, and at the same time we are trying to see our roots, trying to document that  (our heritage) so that the people who come in the future can see.”; with the effort and exploration put into what they believe, it is no doubt the generations to come will still speak of Naaba.

The band continues to spread their message and what they believe in, with new music, live shows, videos, and documentaries; contributing to original Maldivian music, and preserving and showcasing the rich culture, and natural beauty of Maldives.

 For those who are eager to experience their electrifying live music played when the sun has yet to be set follow the band on Instagram; “naaba.island.vibes“to stay updated on their latest and upcoming gigs.

Keeping their fans on the edge of their seats, longing for more Naaba island vibes will not fail to satisfy our hunger for their exceptional sound.