The Legend of Bodu Niyami Kalefanu and the Tuna Fish
One of the most important Maldivian origin myths explains how the tuna fish — the nation's staple food — was brought to Maldivian waters. According to legend, a mythical seafarer named Bodu Niyami Kalefanu (literally 'Great Navigator') sailed close to the Dagas — the mythical cosmic tree at the end of the world — to bring this valuable fish back to the islands. The Dagas was believed to be the source of all marine life, standing at the boundary where the ocean meets the sky. Bodu Niyami Kalefanu, recognized as the greatest maalimi (navigator), used his exceptional knowledge of ocean currents,