HDH-VKD-2 | Site of a former maktab (library)

This building is the house of Kilegefaanu, who played an important role in the educational development of the island. Local people built him a house in this area. The present building was built much later than the original one. The original construction was of coconut thatch and wood. The reason why this place was chosen was because it was one of the few places where wells were found during that period. Although the government forbade people from visiting him, local people found all sorts of reasons to see him. He was a well known and respected politician in the area. As people came and got together, he began to teach the younger generation to read and write. His family had also lived on the island with him for some time, and during that time his mother taught them the Qur’an and Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). Prominent people who had studied here include the local teachers Kanburu Ibrahimbe, Naibu Kuda Moosabe and Kuda Fathun Dhaitha.

Kilegefaanu came from a venerable family, among whom were Mulige, Ibrahim Didi’s (great-grandfather), Numara Ganduvar, Hassan Fashana Kilegefaanu’s (grandfather), Moosa Kilegefaanu’s (father) and Moosa Kilegefaanu (himself). However, it is not known from historical sources whether Moosa Kilegefaanu was actually exiled to any island in Haa Dhaalu.

MHS Site No.: HDH-VKD-2
Interlocutor: Mohamed Zahir (52)
Interviewer: Mohamed Shamran
Date: 25 February 2020
Atoll: Haa Dhaalu
Island: Vaikaradhoo
Address: Fanriyaa