On 4, 5 and 6 June, the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts will present a fabulous concert series of Mediterranean folk roots. Malouf music from Tunisia, Arabic fusion from Egypt and Balkan rhythms from Bosnia and Herzegovina come together for Għanafest 2010. The festival will also host a series of workshops on traditional instruments and a special programme for children. A wonderful event for the whole family complemented by traditional Maltese food and the marvellous surroundings of the Argotti Botanical Gardens in Floriana.

The Malta Independent features an exclusive interview with lead singer and percussionist Marzouk Mejri who is scheduled to perform for Għanafest on Friday 4 June at 10.30pm. On Sunday 6 June at 9pm, Marzouk Mejri (pictured) will deliver a short presentation about the traditional music and instruments of Tunisia.

Your music is rooted in the traditional music of Tunisia but you have been living and working in Naples for these past 16 years. How did you get into the Napoletan music scene?

At first I didn’t form my own ensemble. I would join other bands, mainly as a Darabouka player. I managed this through various associations that support the integration of immigrants and I got to know various musicians. Back in 1994 the technique of the Darabouka was quite unknown and I soon got acquainted with many musicians. My first big break was when I was asked to perform with Daniele Sepe. Soon after that I formed my own ensemble.

How do you convey your cultural heritage to your musicians in Italy who do not share the same ethnicity?

I usually work in layers: I record the voice and percussion on a track and send it off to my musicians. This way they have a very clear idea of the music. I often have to explain the subject matter and the theme of the music but the main issue is the rhythm which comes out of the language. I sing in Arabic and the rhythms of the music are derived from the rhythms of the language itself.

What was your music like before moving to Italy?

I am originally from Tebourba, about 30km away from Tunis. My father played the drum with a brass band and my mother was a very good singer. Music was an important part of my childhood. Everyone sang, especially Sufi music. When I grew up I started studying the Darabouka at the music conservatory in Tunis and I graduated specialising in Sufi and Malouf repertoire.

Do you think that you would be performing a different type of music had you stayed in Tunisia?

Certainly. When I was living in Tunisia I was very committed to the purely traditional form. Sufi and Malouf music are very deep and there is so much to study ... there is such a vast repertoire to listen to. The texts are wonderful and carry a lot of passion. The rhythms of this music are very complex.

Your main references of traditional music are Sufi, Shadi and Malouf. Could you briefly explain each forms?

Sufism is the mystical and ancient branch of Islam that emphasises the path towards ecstatic unity with God. A path which includes chanting the names of God, prayer, meditation, poetry, Qur’anic recitation and music. Malouf is the Arabic music of the Andalousian Muslims chased out of Spain and imported to North Africa at the end of the 15th century. This music is plaintive, sometimes insistent, and has a hint of Berber influence notably in the rhythms and the forms. Shadi is a form of popular folk music with instruments like the Bendir (frame drum), Zokra (reed pipe), Mezued (bagpipe) and others.

Are you influenced by contemporary musicians from other genres?

Not really. I listen to musicians performing in Naples but I don’t keep myself updated with the contemporary international music scene. Sometimes my fellow musicians tell me that my music reminds them of Joe Zawinul for example ... I guess it’s the rhythm.

What are the cultural and social similarities / differences between Tunisia and Naples?

I feel that Naples is very similar to Tunisia. Even the food is similar. I managed to adapt to Naples pretty fast and music played an important part to facilitate this process. I know other Tunisians living in Naples who are working (for example) in agriculture and they tend to be more segregated. In Naples, just as in Tunisia, if you learn where to go and who to avoid, you’ll get along fine.

Għanafest – Malta Mediterranean Folk Music Festival 2009 is organised by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Tourism, the Environment and Culture with the support of the Ministry for Culture of Egypt. The Festival will be held on 4, 5 and 6 June at 7pm, Argotti Gardens, Floriana – within walking distance from Valletta. Tickets: €2 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 folk guitarist Indri Brincat (il-Pupa) who passed away on 24 March. Indri Brincat was also a renowned guitar maker.