A Journey Through the Waters: Baa Goidhoo, Maldives

Goidhoo is one of the inhabited islands in the Maldives. In the 19th century, a female African slave who had been bought by the king on his Hajj trip to Mecca was formally released from slavery and was settled in Goidhu island. A house and a well were built for her. This African woman was called Salaama. She had been working for years at the palace in Malé before the ailing king released her in order to gain merit in the afterlife. The freeing of slaves before the death of the owner was traditionally a common practice among the very high nobility in the Maldives. Now there are some families from Goidhoo that can trace their descendency to this African ancestor.

Here is a documentary that would tell you about the island and the beautiful life in the Maldives that I captured during the days in Baa Goidhoo. Contented I would be if it would bring you at least the basic idea about a typical life in the country. Please use headphone or speaker when you watch this!