Ever wondered how Male’ became the capital of the small island nation of the Maldives? It is a frequent question asked by many locals and tourists, and the history is quite interesting. Unlike many countries in which capital is ruled out in court administratively, it was not entirely the administrative decision that made Male’ the capital. 

Around the years of 600 A.D, Maldivians lived in harmony in a small village like civilization where everybody depended on each other. It was a beautiful time and feasible for the small island community, initially situated in Giraavaru island. It was the people of Giraavaru, also known as the Maldivian ancestors who were responsible for the first settlement of the Maldivian community. However, why isn’t Giraavaru the capital of Maldives then? 

Male’ was named as ‘Mass Blood’ due to the red shores of the island, created due to the butchering of fish. Indeed back in that time, Male’ was a fishing checkpoint where fisherman from around gathered with their catches of the day. Islands are known for erosion, as for Giraavaru it was eroding at an extent to which residents had to move to nearby islands, which was Hulhule’ (Velaanaa International Airport) and Male’. Now the people of Male’ & Hulhule’, were visited by an exiled prince from India known as King Adeetiyya (I.e Koimalaa Kalo), to which he was given the permission by islanders to begin his rule as king under absolute monarchy system. Likewise, Male’ was recognized as the royal island where he resided and the Solar Dynasty begun. 

People of Giraavaru did not fully disperse until 1968, when the community became so small that the island was abandoned. When the airport was opened during the 70s, people of Hulhule’ had to move to Male’. It was also the century in which many islanders of different parts of the Maldives migrated to Male’ for better education. Thus Male’ was integrated with almost all the different cultures of Maldives and the existence of pure Giraavaru people became very rare. 

Since the first visit of Koimalaa King, Male’ was administratively known as the capital of Maldives, as the culture and history of the indigenous people of Giraavaru eroded. Giraavaru is now a tourist resort in Kaafu Atoll, and different cultural practices of Giraavaru are still revived in the community. However, only a few live to tell this tale of the ancestral culture of Giraavaru.