KULHUDHUFFUSHI DHONBE

Last October, I had the opportunity to visit Kulhudhuffushi, where I reconnected with my longtime friend, Abdul Rasheed Ibrahim, fondly known as Dhonbe. Dhonbe is visually impaired, yet remarkably gifted in both music and singing. I first met him in 2011 while serving as Head of the Production Department at TVM, when he was selected to compete in the reality singing competition Voice of Maldives, in which he secured second place. Later, during my time at VTV, we organized a karaoke challenge in Kulhudhuffushi, and I had the pleasure of inviting Dhonbe to serve as one of the judges. After losing touch for some time, we reconnected in 2021. This recent meeting, after a four-year hiatus, was especially moving—he recognized me immediately upon my greeting. However, he also shared his frustrations, expressing concern that his talent has not been adequately recognized or given sufficient opportunities to be showcased. Despite these challenges, I was heartened to see that Dhonbe’s talent remains as powerful as ever, with the continued ability to captivate audiences. I was equally pleased to meet our mutual friend, Ali Mahir, who remains a constant source of inspiration and support for Dhonbe, helping him overcome obstacles by providing opportunities through his production studio, ASP Studio in Kulhudhuffushi. I sincerely wish Dhonbe good health, lasting prosperity, and many opportunities to share his remarkable talent, and to remain happy and fulfilled always. #mondhuproductions #kulhudhuffushi #voiceofmaldivesdhonbe