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Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort to host Maldives first intl magic festival

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Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa has announced plans to host the first international magic festival in Maldives.

The spellbinding Villingili International Festival of Modern Magic will take place in July, and will see five world-renowned magicians take residency at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa. For adults and young guests alike, the month will see the magicians perform two shows per week on Villingili’s silver sands as well as daily close up magic at guests’ dining tables where sleight of hand will take centre stage.

From July 1-31, five magicians are set to enhance the resort’s beautifully ethereal atmosphere through a range of traditional tricks and more unusual modern illusions and mentalism that will blow guests’ minds away. Each of the five magicians are specialists in their own particular field of magic, ensuring that the festival has a wide range of different types of trickeries, illusions and sorcery:

‘The Conjurer’ Duc Nhien

Nhien has been passionate about the art of magic and puzzles since childhood. In 1981, he became the Belgian champion of the Rubik’s cube, which later gave him inspiration for his unique creation ‘Pixism’. Since then the internationally renowned trickster has published a plethora of French educational videos on ‘Virtual Magic’ and various articles in America’s top selling magician magazines “Magic” and “Genii”. Originally from Belgium, Nhien is the number one magician in his home country and boasts the prestigious title “Master Magician”.

Another one of his talents is creating special portraits of audience members by cutting intricate silhouettes out of paper. This has led to him being affectionately nicknamed “The Magician Profiler” by his fans.

‘The Trickster’ Antoine Leroux

Leroux specialises in the vastly popular magic of proximity, otherwise known as close up magic. He honed his skills in France working at private parties and events where he impressed guests with his mind-blowing tricks. Leroux’s experience and professionalism make him one of the most sought-after magicians in France and will be an enchanting addition to the island of Villingili.

‘The Mindreader’ Frank Truong

Known for co-starring in the popular French television show “La Grande Illusion”, Truong is regularly employed by prestigious brands and is highly-regarded within the magic circle. Truong specialises in reading people’s minds often leaving audiences speechless with his predictions. In 2016, Truong participated in “France’s Got Talent” where he seduced the country and judges with his humour and charisma reaching the live semi-finals. Since then, Truong has been travelling through France demonstrating the art of mentalism through his show “You Think So I Know” which is met with continuous success.

‘The Digitalist’ Sebastian Camersini

Camersini is also a magician on the French television show “La Grande Illusion”. He has perfected the art of digital magic and is without doubt one of the most skilful digital magicians on the planet. Camersini works exclusively with the most prestigious members of the magic circle and it known for his elegance and charm when performing.  

‘The Magician’ Vincent Bruneau (Senzo)

Vincent’s passion for magic and new technology led him to create Magency, the first company to offer a collaborative digital solution to engage participants in seminars, conventions, training and meetings. Vincent cites magic and the art of stage as the inspiration behind Magency in which he emphasises the importance of companies engaging their employees from an emotional and human angle. Vincent is also a pioneer of digital magic in France. He creates all of the effects for the “La Grande Illusion” show and manages a range of magicians, specialising in the customisation of effects.

From right to left: ‘The Conjurer’ Duc Nhien, ‘The Magician’ Vincent Bruneau (Senzo), ‘The Mindreader’ Frank Truong, ‘The Digitalist’ Sebastian Camersini, and ‘The Trickster’ Antoine Leroux.

Throughout Villingili’s magic month, guests will be able to enjoy the hotel’s ‘Magical Maldives’ package, which includes daily magic performances at all the restaurants across the resort as well as a magic show with all magicians coming together for a mesmerising performance.

The package also offers a special “Magic Box” dinner as part of the resort’s exclusive Dine By Design programme, which sees expert chefs curate meals served in special locations around the island. The “Magic Box” dinner will centre on innovative food illusions and delicious gastronomic surprises served in unusual and creative forms.

Guests will also be treated to a transformative spa treatment working magic on their skin and wellbeing, at CHI, the Spa, a secluded sanctuary with its own spa village within the resort. The treatment uses warm Dosha pacifying Ayurvedic herbal oils, known for their super healing powers that have a soothing effect on the body and mind, releasing all toxins and stress.

In line with the resort’s magical experiences theme throughout July, the ‘Magical Maldives’ package also includes a dolphin sunset cruise. Guests are invited to marvel as hundreds of spinner dolphins leap and soar out of the water alongside the boat; a sight made all the more extraordinary against the wonderful backdrop of the orange and pink hues of the setting sun. The resort will also provide a magic wand to all its guests as a form of memorabilia from the festival.

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa is located in the southernmost Maldivian atoll of Addu, just a five-minute boat ride away from Gan International Airport.

The resort is a collection of 132 private villas nestled across emerald green jungle and stunning turquoise shoreline. From private ocean retreats to tropical tree houses with panoramic views, resort accommodation features six distinct styles of villa and two presidential villas. All villas feature both indoor and outdoor showers, luxurious oval bathtubs and exquisitely designed silver Jali influenced “his and hers” vanity counters.

The resort has three restaurants, each with a distinct vibe, serving cuisine to suit all tastes. More adventurous guests can enjoy a lunch or dinner served on board a luxury yacht, or a romantic meal in the jungle, as part of the resort’s Dine by Design programme.

Guests can also enjoy an extensive range of activities both on land and at sea: indulge in tranquillity at CHI, The Spa, explore the luscious tropical forest, play a round at the only nine-hole golf course in the Maldives or dive into an aquatic playground of water sport activities.

Entertainment

Alex Turnbull: Music, film, culture at Patina Maldives

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Some encounters change us. Some stories stay with us long after the credits roll, long after the music fades, long after we leave the space where it all happened. This is one of those weekends.

For three days, Patina Maldives becomes a crossroads of music, film, and artistic legacy—woven together by the hands of Alex Turnbull, a man who has spent his life standing at the very heart of underground culture.

A DJ, drummer, filmmaker, and guardian of the avant-garde, Turnbull has lived at the pulse point of transformation. As a founding member of 23 Skidoo, he shaped the sounds that shaped generations. As a producer and remixer, he worked with icons like Sade, Seal, and Neneh Cherry, turning their music into something new, something unexpected, something entirely his own. As a founding member of the International Stüssy Tribe, he helped define the intersection of fashion, music, and rebellion.

And now, here he is. On an island where the tides move with a rhythm of their own, bringing us something rare—something impossible to categorise but impossible to forget.

A DJ set beneath the Maldivian stars, where the past and present fold into each other, where basslines meet the night air, and where we all just for a moment, lose ourselves.

A Stüssy archive pop-up, offering a glimpse into a world where fashion was once a revolution.

A screening of Kim Lim: The Space Between, a film about art, identity, and the spaces that exist between the two. This is Turnbull’s most personal project yet, a tribute to his mother, to creativity, to the quiet power of reinvention.

For three nights, the lines between artist and audience, past and future, reality and dream will blur. Because this is what culture does. It moves. It connects. It asks us to pay attention.

And so we will.

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Culture

Echoes of tradition: timeless rhythm of Boduberu at Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives

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Steeped in history and rhythm, the Boduberu drummers have echoed for centuries, carrying with them stories of seafarers, islanders, and a culture deeply connected to the ocean. Among the drummers at Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives is Naseem, whose grandfather was a renowned Boduberu performer in his home island of Lhaviyani Atoll. As a child, Hassan would sit by the beach, mesmerised by the powerful drumbeats that seemed to summon the sea breeze itself. His grandfather would recount a time when Boduberu was not merely music but a tradition passed down through generations, binding communities through song, dance, and shared history.

Boduberu, meaning “big drums” in Dhivehi, originated as a form of communal entertainment where islanders gathered to celebrate, sing, and dance in unison. Over time, it evolved into a cherished national art form, performed during festivals, ceremonies, and as a warm welcome to visitors. The music is driven by the deep, resonant beats of large drums, accompanied by rhythmic clapping, powerful chanting, and synchronised movements. As the tempo builds, the energy becomes infectious, culminating in an exhilarating crescendo where dancers lose themselves in the rhythm, embodying the true spirit of the Maldives.

At Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives, Boduberu remains a living tradition, offering an invitation to step into the heartbeat of Maldivian culture. Whether performed under the starlit sky by the ocean or woven into intimate celebrations, each performance brings authenticity and excitement, creating a profound connection between guests and the island way of life. Recently, a couple celebrating a birthday at the resort received a heartfelt surprise when the resort’s team arrived with a beautifully crafted cake, accompanied by the powerful beats of Naseem and his fellow drummers. The rhythmic melodies filled the air as staff and performers joined together to sing in Dhivehi, transforming the occasion into an experience far beyond an ordinary birthday celebration.

For Naseem, every performance serves as a tribute to his grandfather, preserving the stories, songs, and rhythms of his ancestors. For the guests of Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives, Boduberu is more than just entertainment; it is an invitation to experience the Maldives as it has been for generations—alive with music, tradition, and the enduring spirit of its people.

Guests can now enjoy exclusive benefits through Cinnamon DISCOVERY, the brand’s loyalty program in collaboration with Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), which connects them to a portfolio of over 800 hotels across 40 brands in 100 countries. As the first Sri Lankan hospitality brand to join GHA DISCOVERY, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts offers members meaningful rewards, personalised experiences, and access to exceptional stays at Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives, Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives, and Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives.

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Entertainment

Waldorf Astoria Maldives hosts iconic beachside concert with Chris De Burgh

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Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is preparing to elevate the romance and charm of Valentine’s Day with an unforgettable evening featuring iconic singer-songwriter Chris De Burgh. Renowned for timeless hits such as ‘The Lady in Red’ and ‘Missing You’, De Burgh will perform an exclusive beachside concert on February 14, 2025, combining world-class entertainment, gourmet dining, and the romantic allure of the Maldives.

The concert will take place under the stars on the resort’s pristine beaches, surrounded by the soothing sound of ocean waves and candlelit tables. Guests will enjoy an intimate live performance by one of the music industry’s most enduring artists. The evening will begin with an elegant BBQ dinner, paired with premium bubbly and live music from the resort’s resident duo band, culminating in De Burgh’s soul-stirring performance beneath a starlit sky.

With a career spanning over five decades and more than 50 million albums sold worldwide, Chris De Burgh’s music has touched hearts across generations. His live performances are celebrated for their intimacy and passion, promising a Valentine’s experience where love, music, and the magic of the Maldives converge into an unforgettable evening.

This bespoke event is priced at USD 595++ per person and includes a thoughtfully curated package designed to enhance the romantic experience. The package features:

  • A luxurious beachside BBQ dinner
  • A bottle of premium bubbly per couple
  • A romantic beach setup to create lasting memories
  • A bouquet of fresh flowers
  • An exclusive Valentine’s in-room amenity

To further enhance the celebration, Waldorf Astoria Maldives is offering a special room package for guests staying between February 12 and 17, 2025. Requiring a minimum stay of three nights, this package includes the exclusive dinner experience. Guests can book directly online to ensure a seamless journey to this enchanting escape. From personalised service to the serene beauty of the Indian Ocean, the resort provides the perfect backdrop for love and celebration.

This exclusive event highlights Waldorf Astoria Maldives’ commitment to elevating the art of hospitality. The resort continues to transform guest experiences by offering extraordinary, bespoke events that seamlessly combine world-class entertainment with luxurious amenities. The ‘Exclusive Celebration with Chris De Burgh’ exemplifies this vision, blending exceptional artistry with the unparalleled charm of the Maldives for a truly unforgettable occasion.

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