Social Media Debates Erupt Over Ministry’s Exclusion of Rap Artists from Poets’ Day Celebrations
Photo: Dhivehibahuge Ekedamee
The Dhivehi Language, Culture, and Heritage Ministry is being scrutinised on social media for failing to acknowledge rap artists as poets. The debate follows the Ministry’s participation in the Dhivehi Language Academy’s 2025 Poets’ Day celebrations with mainstream local poets, excluding the more contemporary crowd.
The Minister emphasised the value of the literary arts when reviewing Poets’ Day events. The celebrations have, however, spurred a heated internet discussion, with many people challenging the strict definition of poetry.
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A well-known local music label, Symbolic Records, sparked debates on social media by asking, “How many lyrics must one write to become a poet? Or what age is there becoming a poet? Asking for a friend.”
Another poster Waddey responded to the Poet’s Day celebration, “If Symbolic Records is not considered lhenverin, call this a retirement party.”
ސިމްބޮލިކް ރިކޯޑްސް އަކީ ލަވަ އާއި ޅެމުގެ ދާއިރާއިން ރާއްޖެއަށް އިންޤިލާބީ ބަދަލެއް ގެނެސް ޒުވާން ފަޙުލަވާނުން ތަކެއް. މިއުޒިކުގެ ދާއިރާގައި ރާއްޖޭގެ އިތުރުން ރާއްޖެއިން ބޭރުގަވެސް ފޭނުން ގިނައަދަދަކަށް ސިމްބޮލިކް ރެކޯޑްސް އާއެކުގައި ދެމިއެބަތިބި ފެށުނީއްސުރެއް. 🇲🇻 އަތުނުވާނެ ❤️— ✭Ą✭Ӈ✭Ų✭Ş✭Ā✭Ŋ✭™ (@AhusanRashyd) January 17, 2025
A writer and well-known social media activist, Lucas Jaleel, also expressed his opinion, claiming that “rap artists are poets.”
“This age of Dhivehi poetry is most evident and evolving in Rap,” he explained. “Rap is a literary genre. Rappers should take part in discussions regarding poetry.”
ރެޕާ މެދު މަގޭ ހިޔާލު
ދިވެހި ބަހުގަ “އާސީނުތަށި” ގެ ބޭރުން ސުކުން ނުކުރެވޭނެ ކަމަށް ބުނެފި ނަމަ ފުވައްމުލަކު މީހުން ދިވެހި ބަހުން ވާހަކަ ދައްކާނެ ގޮތެއް ނޭނގެއެވެ. ޅެމަކީ ހަމަ އެކަނި ބަނޑުވައް އަކުރާ ކާފިޔާގެ ތެރޭ އޮތް އެއްޗެއް ކަމަށް ބަލާ ނަމަ ދިވެހި ޅެމުގެ ވަރަށް ގިނަ ތަކެތި… pic.twitter.com/rHicOxj01t— Luke (@lucasjalyl) January 18, 2025
“Yes, rap music contains some of the most offensive tunes,” He also said in response to complaints about its explicit content. “It’s accurate. However, all poetic forms have these kinds of components. Boundaries have always been explored in poetry, even when it comes to representations of food and drink. That doesn’t lessen its literary value, though. Rap is not any different.”
Hurihaa music genre ga ves hunnaane lhen verikan mussadhi lava ya, explicit lyrics hunna lavathah ekam rap ves ehen genre thakah ves lhen hadhaa kudhin ves jeheyne baiveri kuran, ekudhinge talent ge agu vazan kuran jeheyne, eki sarukaaruga vaki bayakah iskan dheythan fenanee https://t.co/2F49eJcVuP— Shahyd Legacy (@ShahydLegacy) January 17, 2025
He also underlined how important it is for rappers like Symbolic Records to introduce Dhivehi poetry to younger audiences. “The Dhivehi Language Academy should work with relevant fields to promote rap,” he continued.
As the discussion progresses, it has become evident that rap is seen by many members of the public as a modern and important kind of poetry. It is unclear if this viewpoint will affect the Ministry’s future position on the issue, but it does highlight how Maldivian literary traditions are changing.
