Maldivian music legend Mezzo Mohamed dies aged 59

Maldivian music legend Mohamed Majid, popularly known as Mezzo Mode, has died at the age of 59.

Mezzo Mohamed, who rose to fame in the 90s, died on Wednesday afternoon shortly after he was admitted to the emergency room of the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male’ City.

The exact cause of his death is unclear.

Tributes have begun coming in as people, including government officials, state dignitaries, politicians, musicians and fans, react with shock at his sudden passing.

In a post on X, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu conveyed condolences to the bereaved family.

He also recognized Mezzo Mohamed’s contributions to the Maldivian industry during a career spanning over 45 years, describing him as a beloved and talented individuals who produced a number of original Maldivian songs.

إِِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ

ފަންނާއި މުނިފޫހިފިލުވުމުގެ ދާއިރާއަށް 45 އަހަރަށް ވުރެ ދިގު މުއްދަތަކަށް ޚިދުމަތް ކުރައްވައި، އަދި ދިވެހި އަމިއްލަ ފަންނީ ބައެއް އުފެއްދުން އުފެއްދުމުގައި ވެސް މަޤްބޫލު ހުނަރުވެރިކަަމެއް ދައްކަވާފައިވާ، މުޙައްމަދު މާޖިދު (މެޒޯ… pic.twitter.com/pUNByzY7Mp

— Dr Mohamed Muizzu (@MMuizzu) February 12, 2025

Mezzo Mohamed began his career in music in the late 1970s at the tender age of nine, as he accompanied his brother to perform at homes during Eid. In past interviews, he recalled how he taught himself to play the guitar, drums, keyboard and the tambourine, and also to speak and read the English language.

In the early 1980s, he began performing in resorts.

Before taking the Maldives by storm with his own band Mezzo in the 1990s, Mezzo Mohamed also appeared as part of the line-up for bands including Club Cobras, Born in Maldives, Quicksand, 20th Century BC and Cream of Acid.

He released four albums which focus solely on his original music, and his talent propelled him beyond performing in the tropical island nation to gigs around the world.

He also cemented his place in history by becoming the first Maldivian musician to have his music featured on MTV.

Mezzo Mohamed produced over 40 original songs, with hits such as ‘Kamana Goathi Aadhanu’, ‘Udun Tharithah’, ‘Visna Visna’, ‘Jismu’, ‘Roanu Edhuru’, ‘Elhi Mi Kandumathi’, ‘Akiri Dhemey’ and ‘Dhaaneyhe Thihandhaan Filaa’ continuing to be popular to this day.

He received the National Award of Recognition for his contributions to the Maldivian music industry in 2010.

Beyond music, Mezzo Mohamed was also a vocal advocate for reforms, and was actively involved in introducing multi-party democracy to the Maldives in the 2000s.

Mezzo Mohamed is survived by two children; a son and a daughter, the latter of whom, Mira Mohamed Majidh, followed in her father’s footsteps to pursue a career in music.