Maldivian singer joins Grammy ballot through global music project
Ahmed Adhuham becomes the first artist from the Maldives featured in The World Album, representing 200 nations in Billboard’s Grammy Contenders Issue
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — Maldivian musician Ahmed Adhuham has become the country’s first artist to feature on The World Album, a landmark global collaboration now listed on the official Grammy ballot for Best Global Music Album.
The project, produced by the International Artists Project and featured in Billboard Magazine’s Grammy Contenders Issue, unites performers from 200 countries across 93 languages and 121 genres.
Adhuham, vocalist of the Maldivian band 2ofus, said participating in such an expansive creative effort underscores music’s power to transcend boundaries. “It’s an honor to represent my country in such a historic project,” he said. “Music has no borders — this album brings together the world’s voices under one vision.”
According to Maldivian media reports, the inclusion marks a significant moment for the island nation’s small but dynamic music scene, which rarely finds representation in international awards platforms. The project has been submitted to the Recording Academy for Grammy consideration, placing the Maldives among nations recognized in the global arts community.
Adhuham’s band, 2ofus — which includes Shamrooh, Nasooh, Shaheed, and Jasheem — fuses Maldivian folk rhythms such as boduberu with Bollywood and contemporary global sounds.
The group recently performed a sold-out concert at the historic Olympus Theater in Male and earned acclaim as the second runner-up at the 2025 Battle of the Bands International in India, where Adhuham’s vocal mimicry of island birds drew attention.
Their next performance, titled Dream Beyond Borders: 2ofus LIVE in Kuala Lumpur, will mark the first official overseas concert by a Maldivian band.
For local artists, Adhuham’s achievement represents more than personal recognition — it signals the Maldives’ growing presence in global creative industries long dominated by larger nations.
As The World Album competes for Grammy consideration, Adhuham’s journey reflects the emerging voice of island nations in the global music arena — where culture, innovation, and identity converge beyond borders.
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