If you’ve heard only great things about our new potential Mr. Galolhu Uthuru, Mohamed Ibrahim, more popularly known as Kudu, all you’ve heard is likely very true. He’s as earnest and enthusiastic a man could be, with charming energy when talking about his upcoming parliamentary bid. We had the lucky opportunity to catch Kudu in-between submissions at Elections Commission and meetings with former presidents to talk about his campaign for Majlis 2024.
For those of you who don’t know Kudu and his work, did you know that Star Wars once filmed in our very own Maldives? Although most people remember him as one of Freeze band’s musician, Kudu has been working as an exclusive production coordinator since 2003 with his company Blue N White. Kudu and his team were responsible for was Star Wars filming scenes from Planet Scarif in our very own Laamu Atoll.
Kudu says his goal for contesting in Majlis 2024 is to be able to gain some much needed trust and faith from people for the electoral process, and by extension, the legislative power of the people represented at the People’s Majlis. It would be impossible for Kudu to do what he does without help from his community. He says it took him years to build a good support system, and that it was a lot of relationship building both in and outside his family that made him feel brave enough to compete for the Galolhu Uthuru seat.
We Asked Kudu A Couple Of Burning Questions!
The elections are closer than ever before. How do you feel about your progress so far? Are you ready?
Well, I feel like the hard part is well and truly over. I’ve overcome the inertia, and I am no longer going to criticize the system without doing anything about it. If all we do is watch, we get what we ask for, and its up to us to be brave enough to cross those barriers straight into the political arena. It’s all about being brave.
What do you want to highlight as something really different about Galolhu Kudu campaign efforts?
We made it really easy for us. We’ve been keeping records of everything that is given to us in support of the campaign by friends, family, and well-wishers, and we’ve found auditors for our funds.
And if you ever visit the space, you’ll see we started with a list of don’ts: I am not pushing anyone of my colleagues or friends in front of the truck because they’re my competitors. Personally, it’s more valuable that we maintain closeness and friendship with each other than to have them disappear for me to win a seat. We’re trying to run a clean and honest campaign. There will be no noisy vehicles driving around, no posters piling up as waste, and no photo ops or cash handouts. I don’t believe in doing things I don’t agree with just for a campaign or votes.
You’re contesting with the MDP ticket for a chance at representing the Galolhu Uthuru constituency. How has your experience working with the party been so far?
I’ve been a supporter of the party for many years, and I appreciate that they work as a collective. Always, it is public opinion that’s distilled into their manifestos, and I truly believe that being human is what comes first and foremost. Then you push for things the party wants, because it’s difficult for an independent to raise their voice in a system like ours. People are also very receptive of me. They keep telling me what a cool thing it is that I’ve done. Before, we would always be criticizing politicians over coffee, and my friends would jokingly ask me when it would be my turn to take the reins. I feel grateful for how far we’ve come, and for all the members in my excellent team like Aik who have been invaluable in the hope and spirit they give me by supporting this campaign. It makes me want to believe in the future with renewed passion.
What’s something you’ve learned in life that’s always stayed with you?
When you die, you will be asked what you did in this life. If you or I could help someone out, we definitely should. When I achieved success, I wanted to celebrate, support and see others be recognized too. I don’t let people convince me they are worth it, but if I truly believe someone deserves an award or recognition, I want to be able to do it for them from my heart because I admire them. I like to do good things in silence, to do them without feeling the need to announce it and expecting a favor in return. I like taking things that I like out into the spotlight in a proper way.
This campaign is also something I’m doing because I’m doing well, and I’m doing it the way I want to. I dress in a plain white shirt that doesn’t need to be 100% wrinkle free, and people will look at me like I’m funny, but that’s who I am and I want to be exactly as I am no matter who it is I’m meeting after this.
Life is not just working until you die. That’s not it. I think it’s going out of your way to help people. You have to teach others what you know so none of the beautiful gifts we’ve inherited get lost. You have to volunteer because lives are not easy everywhere, and monopolizing your skill or your talent is the most selfish thing you can do.
I don’t believe that someone can tell you their business secret and then you’ll succeed. its not like learning something from a book… its like an heirloom recipe. You have to be there to see it done to be able to learn and understand. It has to come from the heart. The biggest drop-out in our school batch was the most successful businessman. Leadership. Delegation, planning pursuing a goal, these can be words we say when we talk, but when education comes with talent and a willingness to do— that’s when we’re really ready.
What advice would you want to give to young people?
Youth these days really care about what they look like, what shoes and what clothes they wear. I think it’s more important to emphasize the things you do, how you keep moving and keep doing things. There’s no such thing as shameful work, and it’s very important to keep seeking opportunities if you want your income to be greater than your expenditure in this city, which I feel is something youth struggle with overall.
We all know Male’ is the way it is. The change did not happen overnight, and a successful person will know how to adapt to that. Minimalistic living is possible, even necessary until the situation improves, and we have to be grateful for the privileges we have as Maldivians. Sure there will be some factors we cannot control, but your mindset can be trained and changed by you. Don’t get stuck in your head, don’t be immobilized because of traffic or rainwater or crowds. Get out of the house that’s constricting you, understand that the ocean is right there if you need to take a break or a breather. You need to be able to manage stress and recharge somehow if you want to have enough energy to open the doors around you and achieve success. Wake up every morning, determine what you want to achieve, and stay focused on the inputs you have to see through to reach your goals.
My advice for youth seeking a career in policymaking is to not idealize parliament as your main source of income. It has to be your first priority in terms of work, but it cannot be your primary livelihood.
My campaign is different because I have auditors, and the moment I lose this election, I will be ready to disband my office, tie up those lose ends and go back to my first baby, my company. I am competing with one of the most experienced and educated women in the political arena right now, and I am not going to make excuses if i lose. I won’t take it too seriously either. It will be because I didn’t win your vote, the public’s trust, and I’m trying to approach it like any other thing in life. I know you can’t control what’s happening outside you.
But mastery of the self, knowing when to go outside and get fresh air or swim or reconnect with nature and feel relief; these are things that are up to us. I have a guitar at home that I got right before COVID. I’m by no means a serious musician anymore, but it feels really nice to just sit with it and play and remember better days. My advice to anyone following me on this journey is to try you best to assume control of your life, seek peace and do work that you can be proud of at the curtain call. Planning is easy, and the only way you lose time is it you leave your deadlines to pile up for the next day. Keep working, stay on top of the things you have to do so they don’t weigh you down on your journey towards success.
Let’s assume you win the election and become the Member of Parliament for Galolhu Uthuru constituency at the 20th People’s Majlis. What would you like to pursue as policy initiatives and legislative reform?
I want to focus on community-based development, things like rehabilitation, crime reduction, public awareness campaigns and of course, a solution to the housing crisis crushing so many Maldivians today. Things will improve when we successfully address this, and if families can be supported in their journey to stay together and heal together in this polarized and divided climate, that will be work I’m proud of for sure. We need to make an effort to foster togetherness, to accept and build foundations on the very things that make us different from each other because that’s where our true strength is. Divisions need to be let go. I want Maldivians to be able to go back to the days when political and ideological differences won’t keep us from breaking bread together. Where dialogue should be fostering solutions, now we find big hate and polarizing rhetoric, sometimes even physical fights, and I don’t think politics should be so personal. Generations need to set aside differences and work together to bridge these gaps and create something truly inclusive. I know this won’t happen overnight, I have been told so too, but everyone needs to find that moment when they can also take brave steps forward in order to bring change, even if it might take years and years.
Since you weren’t in politics before this, can you give us a short review about what your experience has been like so far?
I don’t think people can be forced to do things, so my unique campaign approach, the things I’m talking about, this is my effort to win back faith in the system. I want people to believe in this process and be more involved in public consultations.
I don’t think anyone believes what you say in this line of work. And it’s funny because you’ll find everyone saying the same thing, pushing the same promises towards a struggling public.
I want to facilitate a connection and a conversation. Here I have the chance to prove Kudu will be different through my actions. We have lost so much trust and it can only be built back with the right values, not catchy slogans.
The most important skill for me in this line of work is getting things done, getting things done and getting things done. If you feel like you’re the right person for the job, put your best foot forward instead of only criticizing the courageous candidates who are contesting. This isn’t an easy thing, but I try to approach it with the same mindset I’ve let guide my life until this point: how can I be of help? I might not understand your feelings or where you’re coming from, but I can always ask: how can I help you? Representing constituents in the People’s Majlis is a collective effort. You have to stay close to your constituents regardless of who they voted for, and you have to work with other MPs to keep lobbying inside parliament to achieve change within the party system. Hating someone outright because of which color they are affiliated with politically is too narrow a mindset to have, and ultimately, that change needs to start with you.
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