Speaking during a press conference to launch this year’s Etnika project, Dr Zammit Dimech said Maltese culture attracted tourism and it is estimated that about 200,000 people visit Malta to experience our cultural heritage, our millennia of history and our traditions and feasts.

“Our culture is a very important tool in attracting tourists to our country. But it is also important to project our national identity, even more so now that we are part of a union of 25 European countries,” said Dr Zammit Dimech.

He said that the Etnika project, which has now run for three years in a row, was similar to a time machine, to reclaim our roots and to rediscover traditions, both cultural and musical, which had been lost over the years. The first project was held in the Opera House ruins and the following were at Mdina and St Elmo. “Etnika will bring together a number of people and instruments that had been lost in history, along with forgotten melodies and heritage that had also been lost,” he said.

Dr Zammit Dimech explained that since Malta had been a colony of various peoples, its musical folklore was limited. “Our main musical folklore is ghana and a great effort is being put into preserving it. Etnika have adopted the original approach of using ghana to narrate events,” said Dr Zammit Dimech.

He also pointed out that government was organising the ghana festival on a yearly basis. “But this is not enough.

“Every ghannej (folk singer) that is lost and not replaced is an irreparable loss to our folklore,” he said.

Dr Zammit Dimech said another loss was that of disappearing musical instruments. “There are some musical instruments that were played on a regular basis just a few years ago. But these seem to be disappearing very quickly,” he said.

He was grateful to the Etnika team, said Dr Zammit Dimech, because they were giving new life to Maltese culture and folklore in an innovative and creative way.

“Etnika has used instruments such as ir-ram, iz-zaqq and the tambur. And this year, they are going to introduce the flejguta”, said Dr Zammit Dimech.

He said he was also pleased that St John’s Ditch had been chosen as the venue because the fortified bastions will reflect the history and heritage of Malta throughout the event. The history of the fortifications will also be recounted during the event, by a narrator.

“The Etnika team are ambassadors who represent our country at various overseas festivals with music based on tradition. Etnika are doing their bit to preserve our heritage and protect it from becoming extinct,” he said.

The concert is being held next Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8.30pm onwards. Tickets, which cost Lm6, may be purchased at the door.

To conclude, Dr Zammit Dimech appealed for teachers to encourage the young people of Malta to recognise and love our cultural heritage. By doing this, he said, they will not only help preserve our culture but will give it new life.

He appealed to all Maltese to be proud of what belongs to the country and to help project our true national identity to tourists who visit the islands.