Folk Tales of the Maldives by Xavier Romero-Frias - Chapter 1 - The First Coconuts
A reading of the first chapter of Folk Tales of the Maldives by Xavier Romero-Frias.
Folk Tales of the Maldives was first published by NIAS press in 2012. Xavier has informed me that despite the fact that he had made a point to send copies of this book and his previous ones to the National Library in Male' immediately after publication, a European researcher had told him that a search for his books turns up blank. Worrying news, and utterly evil by the library if it is indeed somehow trying to censor Maldivian culture from Maldivians themselves.
Available from NIAS Press:
http://www.niaspress.dk/books/folk-tales-maldives
"The Maldives are mainly known as an equatorial tourist paradise to the south of India but some will know the archipelago risks drowning owing to global warming. Far less is known about the people, who have occupied these islands for millennia but whose deep indigenous culture is today under threat from a multitude of external forces.
This volume is a collection of 80 traditional short stories and legends selected from the large corpus of stories in the local oral tradition, and translated and illustrated by the author who is the foremost authority on the language and anthropology of the Maldives. These folk tales offer keen insights both into the history, culture and beliefs of the people of the Maldives and into the world they live in. The close relationship the Maldivians have with their environment is clear, likewise the syncretic nature of their Islamic faith, the tales bustling with spirits, sorcerers and monsters as well as local people, seabirds, etc.
Would-be travellers to the Maldives will find this a unique insight into the real country behind the tourist brochures. For scholars, the folk tales and analytical material offer a wonderful literary/folklore resource as well as fresh perspectives on the effects of globalization."
And also from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Folk-Tales-Maldives-Xavier-Romero-Frias/dp/8776941051
More research from Xavier Romero-Frias
http://independent.academia.edu/XavierRomeroFrias
For Naail. RIP.