Ghanafest is a celebration of Maltese music heritage within the Mediterranean basin. Between 29 -31 May, the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts will present a fabulous concert series of Mediterranean folk roots. Gnawa music from Algeria, Sephardic melodies from Israel, Gypsy rhythms from the south of France and Maltese traditional music come together for the Malta Mediterranean Folk Music Festival.

Every folk music tradition has its scenario which constitutes the social backdrop within which the performance takes place. For Maltese ghana (folksong) it’s the village wine bar. Every Sunday morning a network of wine bars across Malta and Gozo, host a programme of Maltese folksong for the numerous aficionados that turn up for their weekly rendezvous. The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts honours this heritage by organising an annual showcase of Maltese ghana enhanced by the participation of other local groups and ensembles from three different Mediterranean countries. Ghanafest offers a unique opportunity to experience an overview of the different styles and expressions of Maltese folksong. There are three major styles of ghana: Spirtu Pront (quick-wit) an improvised form of song duel, Tal-Fatt (factual), a composed narrative that may be fictional or based on true events and Fil-Gholi (high-pitched) a style of singing on a high vocal register. Besides ghana, the festival will also include a programme of Maltese guitar music known as Prejjem, where the role of the ghannej (singer) is replaced by the lead guitarist who plays the music with a vibrant sequence of melodic patterns.

“We appreciate our own music heritage even more when we hear the same characteristics of Maltese ghana featuring within the music traditions of other Mediterranean countries.” states artistic director Ruben Zahra to emphasise that Maltese folk music is part of a larger Mediterranean cultural identity. Three extraordinary ensembles from France, Algeria and Israel have been invited to participate so that each day of the festival will present a programme of music from the Mediterranean basin. The French group Troubl’Amours will take the stage by storm with their gypsy rhythms on the opening night. The next day we shift further south with a fascinating concert of sub-Saharan African, Berber, and Arabic religious songs by ‘Harmonica’ from Algeria. The Israeli Ethnic Ensemble will take the festival to its grand finale with their captivating fusion of Balkan, Gypsy, Sephardic, Yemenite and Mediterranean influences. The audience will also have the opportunity to assist a short presentation by the foreign artists demonstrating their folk instruments and various other aspects of their music tradition.

Besides local traditional music, Ghanafest will also present a selection of musicians and ensembles which portray Maltese identity in a more contemporary fashion. On Friday, 29 May there will be a concert by songwriters and singers Manwel Mifsud, Teddy Zammit, Rita Pace and Corazon Mizzi. On Saturday, 30 May the folk ensemble Nafra will present a selection from the cycle “Songs from Malta” composed by the late Charles Camilleri on the verses of Joe Friggieri. This year’s edition of the festival is dedicated to Charles Camilleri who passed away earlier this year. Like many of the great musicians of the 20th century, Camilleri was essentially a folklorist, following in the footsteps of composers like Bartók, Kódaly, Janacek and others. Sarcasm abounds on Sunday, 31 May in a concert by the innovative folk band Brikkuni, who will entertain the audience with their witty lyrics and references to today’s Maltese society.

Another innovative highlight of the festival is a children’s programme for the younger public to experience Maltese folk music through fun and games. Children will get the opportunity to challenge an ghannej (folksinger) who will improvise verses in song and rhyme on a given subject. The choreographic sequence of the Maltese tanbur calls for another entertaining session accompanied by a folk musician playing iz-zaqq (Maltese bagpipe). Another entertaining activity is the crafting of iz-zafzafa as children are introduced to the techniques of assembling a Maltese friction drum. On Friday, 29 May at 9.30am, Ghanafest shall also host a special performance for schools on the main stage at Argotti Gardens in Floriana.

Ghanafest – Malta Mediterranean Folk Music Festival 2009 is organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts and the Ministry for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport with the support of the Ambassade de France a Malte. The Festival will be held on the 29, 30 and 31 May at 7pm, Argotti Gardens, Floriana – within walking distance from Valletta. Tickets: e2 available at the door. Parking available at the Floriana Boy Scouts headquarters right next to the venue. This year’s edition of the festival is dedicated to Maltese composer Charles Camilleri who passed away in January of this year.Ghanafest is a celebration of Maltese music heritage within the Mediterranean basin. Between 29 -31 May, the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts will present a fabulous concert series of Mediterranean folk roots. Gnawa music from Algeria, Sephardic melodies from Israel, Gypsy rhythms from the south of France and Maltese traditional music come together for the Malta Mediterranean Folk Music Festival.

Every folk music tradition has its scenario which constitutes the social backdrop within which the performance takes place. For Maltese ghana (folksong) it’s the village wine bar. Every Sunday morning a network of wine bars across Malta and Gozo, host a programme of Maltese folksong for the numerous aficionados that turn up for their weekly rendezvous. The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts honours this heritage by organising an annual showcase of Maltese ghana enhanced by the participation of other local groups and ensembles from three different Mediterranean countries. Ghanafest offers a unique opportunity to experience an overview of the different styles and expressions of Maltese folksong. There are three major styles of ghana: Spirtu Pront (quick-wit) an improvised form of song duel, Tal-Fatt (factual), a composed narrative that may be fictional or based on true events and Fil-Gholi (high-pitched) a style of singing on a high vocal register. Besides ghana, the festival will also include a programme of Maltese guitar music known as Prejjem, where the role of the ghannej (singer) is replaced by the lead guitarist who plays the music with a vibrant sequence of melodic patterns.

“We appreciate our own music heritage even more when we hear the same characteristics of Maltese ghana featuring within the music traditions of other Mediterranean countries.” states artistic director Ruben Zahra to emphasise that Maltese folk music is part of a larger Mediterranean cultural identity. Three extraordinary ensembles from France, Algeria and Israel have been invited to participate so that each day of the festival will present a programme of music from the Mediterranean basin. The French group Troubl’Amours will take the stage by storm with their gypsy rhythms on the opening night. The next day we shift further south with a fascinating concert of sub-Saharan African, Berber, and Arabic religious songs by ‘Harmonica’ from Algeria. The Israeli Ethnic Ensemble will take the festival to its grand finale with their captivating fusion of Balkan, Gypsy, Sephardic, Yemenite and Mediterranean influences. The audience will also have the opportunity to assist a short presentation by the foreign artists demonstrating their folk instruments and various other aspects of their music tradition.

Besides local traditional music, Ghanafest will also present a selection of musicians and ensembles which portray Maltese identity in a more contemporary fashion. On Friday, 29 May there will be a concert by songwriters and singers Manwel Mifsud, Teddy Zammit, Rita Pace and Corazon Mizzi. On Saturday, 30 May the folk ensemble Nafra will present a selection from the cycle “Songs from Malta” composed by the late Charles Camilleri on the verses of Joe Friggieri. This year’s edition of the festival is dedicated to Charles Camilleri who passed away earlier this year. Like many of the great musicians of the 20th century, Camilleri was essentially a folklorist, following in the footsteps of composers like Bartók, Kódaly, Janacek and others. Sarcasm abounds on Sunday, 31 May in a concert by the innovative folk band Brikkuni, who will entertain the audience with their witty lyrics and references to today’s Maltese society.

Another innovative highlight of the festival is a children’s programme for the younger public to experience Maltese folk music through fun and games. Children will get the opportunity to challenge an ghannej (folksinger) who will improvise verses in song and rhyme on a given subject. The choreographic sequence of the Maltese tanbur calls for another entertaining session accompanied by a folk musician playing iz-zaqq (Maltese bagpipe). Another entertaining activity is the crafting of iz-zafzafa as children are introduced to the techniques of assembling a Maltese friction drum. On Friday, 29 May at 9.30am, Ghanafest shall also host a special performance for schools on the main stage at Argotti Gardens in Floriana.

Ghanafest – Malta Mediterranean Folk Music Festival 2009 is organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts and the Ministry for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport with the support of the Ambassade de France a Malte. The Festival will be held on the 29, 30 and 31 May at 7pm, Argotti Gardens, Floriana – within walking distance from Valletta. Tickets: e2 available at the door. Parking available at the Floriana Boy Scouts headquarters right next to the venue. This year’s edition of the festival is dedicated to Maltese composer Charles Camilleri who passed away in January of this year.