The most lively and popular form of traditional Maldivian music, boduberu is played to the accompaniment of drums, tambourine, harmonicas and singing, and takes its influences from African culture. The songs vary in mood and rhythm but are usually about love or herosim, beginning slowly and gaining tempo progressively, reaching a frantic crescendo of clapping, chanting and dancing. Dancers jump and jerk to the beat and sway their hips in an informal, easy-to-follow routine – which also acts as a great workout!