Loranne Vella and Joe Gatt, the creators of the Maltese-language literary journal Aphroconfuso, outlined an ambitious project that seeks not only to publish literature but to fundamentally reshape how it is written, read, and understood in Malta.
Since its launch in May 2023, Aphroconfuso has quickly established itself as a distinctive voice within Malta's cultural landscape. Yet, as Vella explained in an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday, the journal did not begin as an attempt to enter the existing literary space, but rather as a response to what its founders saw as a clear absence within it.
The idea emerged from ongoing conversations between the founders and fellow writers, many of whom shared a sense of frustration with the limitations of Malta's publishing environment. According to Vella, these limitations were not merely about quantity, but about the kinds of writing that were deemed publishable.
"There was always this feeling that the literary scene was restricted," she said. "Not only in what gets published, but in the types of work that are considered valuable. Fiction and poetry tend to dominate, while other forms - essays, diaries, experimental writing and literary non-fiction - are often sidelined."
This, she argued, is closely linked to the realities of commercial publishing. Traditional publishing houses, operating within a market-driven system, are more likely to prioritise works that are perceived to have broader appeal and higher sales potential. As a result, more experimental or unconventional writing is frequently overlooked. Recognising this, the founders of Aphroconfuso chose not to attempt reform from within these structures, but instead to create an alternative model. The journal was conceived as a space where different forms of writing could exist without the constraints of market expectations.
"We didn't start by asking what was missing and trying to fix it from the outside," Gatt explained. "We started from what we could actually do ourselves, from within, and built something that could grow from there." From the outset, sustainability was a central concern. Rather than launching a print publication, which would require significant financial resources and logistical planning, the founders opted for an online journal. This decision allowed them to focus on consistency and longevity, rather than scale.
"The most important question for us was not just what we could do now, but what we could keep doing over the years," Gatt said. "An online journal was something we knew we could sustain." The digital format also provided a level of flexibility that would not have been possible in print. Without the need to meet fixed publication schedules or page limits, the journal could evolve organically, with content added gradually over time. This has enabled Aphroconfuso to build a growing archive of work that remains permanently accessible.
Accessibility itself is a key pillar of the project. All content is published online free of charge, and much of it is accompanied by audio versions. For the founders, this is not simply a practical choice, but a reflection of their broader commitment to inclusivity. "We wanted to remove as many barriers as possible," Vella said. "Literature can often feel inaccessible, even when technically it isn't. By making everything available online and for free, we are trying to change that."
At the same time, Aphroconfuso resists being described as a passive platform. Rather than simply publishing submitted work, the journal operates with a clear editorial vision that shapes both the selection and development of its content. "We are not a platform in the sense that we just receive submissions and publish them," Gatt explained. "There is a specific editorial direction that guides everything we do."
This direction, he added, is both aesthetic and political. While the journal remains rooted in literature, it is also engaged with broader social and cultural questions, particularly those related to identity, marginalisation and power. Over time, this approach has led to the emergence of what the founders describe as a literary community. Unlike traditional publishing models, where the relationship between editor and writer is often transactional, Aphroconfuso places emphasis on long-term collaboration.
"Our relationship is with the writer, not just the text," Vella said. "We often work with people from the very beginning of a piece, sometimes over the course of a year or more. It's about developing ideas together." This collaborative process extends to the editorial work itself. Rather than imposing a particular style or voice, editors aim to help writers articulate their own perspectives more clearly. Vella described this as one of the central challenges of editing.
"The role of the editor is to discover what the writer is trying to say and help bring that out," Gatt said. "It's not about controlling the voice, but about enabling it." Despite this emphasis on individuality, a distinct 'Aphroconfuso style' has begun to take shape." This, Gatt suggested, is not the result of deliberate imposition, but rather the product of interaction between writers working within a shared environment.
"It's something that has emerged naturally," Vella said. "A kind of collective voice that develops through dialogue." Language plays a crucial role in this process. In many cases, writers working with Aphroconfuso are exploring themes and ideas that have not traditionally been expressed in Maltese. This often requires adapting existing vocabulary or creating new forms of expression.
"There are things we want to write about that don't yet exist in Maltese," Vella said. "So we have to find ways of making them exist." This process, she noted, is inherently collaborative. It depends not only on writers and editors, but also on readers who are willing to engage with unfamiliar forms of language and meaning.
The journal's name itself reflects this spirit of experimentation and provocation. Aphroconfuso is derived from a 16th century description of the Maltese people, a phrase that carries racial and colonial connotations. While the term might initially appear controversial, Gatt explained that its adoption was intentional.
"It started almost as a joke, but it quickly became something we wanted to explore seriously," he said. "It raises questions about how we see ourselves and how our history has been constructed."
For the founders, the name serves as a way of confronting uncomfortable aspects of Malta's past, while also challenging contemporary assumptions about identity. In particular, it draws attention to the island's Mediterranean context and its historical connections beyond Europe. "There is a tendency to look towards England and Europe as our main points of reference," Gatt said. "But we are also part of a broader Mediterranean space, and that is something we often overlook."
This perspective informs the journal's broader approach to language and culture. While acknowledging the central role of English in Malta, Aphroconfuso seeks to move beyond the dominance of English as the default framework for intellectual and literary engagement. "There is a habit of thinking through English, even when dealing with ideas that come from elsewhere," Vella said. "We try to bring those ideas into Maltese, to make them part of our own way of thinking."
Translation is a key tool in this process. However, for the founders, translation is not simply about converting text from one language to another. It is also a way of engaging more deeply with ideas.
"When you translate something, you don't just understand it - you internalise it," Gatt said. "It becomes part of your own thinking." At the same time, the journal is attentive to the changing linguistic landscape of Malta itself. With increasing numbers of foreign residents learning and using Maltese, new possibilities are emerging for how the language can be used.
"For us, this is a very exciting development," Vella said. "People who come from different backgrounds bring different perspectives, and that can open up new directions for Maltese literature."
Although such developments are still in their early stages, Aphroconfuso has already begun working with writers from diverse linguistic backgrounds. The aim, Gatt explained, is to create a space where Maltese can serve as a shared medium for a wide range of experiences.
The journal's thematic focus further reflects this commitment to inclusivity. By prioritising feminist, queer and marginal narratives, Aphroconfuso seeks to address areas that have historically been underrepresented within Maltese literature.
"These are not niche topics," Vella said. "They are central to how society works. Writing about them is a way of engaging with the mainstream, not stepping outside it."
Nevertheless, the founders are aware of the perception that such work may appeal only to a limited audience. Vella rejected this view, arguing instead that audiences are shaped by the availability of different kinds of writing.
"We don't believe that readers exist first and writing follows," she said. "We believe that writing creates readers."
This philosophy underpins the journal's approach to accessibility. By remaining free, online and widely available, Aphroconfuso aims to reach readers who might not otherwise engage with literary work.
At the same time, the editors are careful to distinguish accessibility from simplification. For them, maintaining high standards is essential, but this does not mean excluding audiences.
"Quality is not about elitism," Vella said. "It's about respecting the reader."
Looking ahead, the founders are focused on ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project. Having established the journal and begun expanding into print publishing, Aphroconfuso is now registered as a non-profit organisation.
This transition marks a new phase in the project's development. Over the next three years, the team plans to document its editorial processes in detail, producing a manual that can serve as a resource for future editors and contributors.
"We want to make our methods transparent," Gatt said. "So that others can learn from them and build on them."
In addition, the journal intends to run workshops aimed at training new editors and expanding its network of contributors. The ultimate goal is to create a structure that can continue independently of its founders.
"We don't want this to depend only on us," Vella said. "We want it to grow beyond us."
The journal has already worked with around 40 contributors spanning a wide range of ages and backgrounds. This diversity, Vella noted, is one of its greatest strengths.
"We have writers in their 20s and writers in their 70s," she said. "Each brings a different perspective, and that creates a richer dialogue."
As Aphroconfuso continues to develop, its founders remain focused on their original aim: to create a space where Maltese literature can evolve in new and unexpected ways. By combining editorial collaboration, linguistic experimentation and a commitment to inclusivity, the journal represents a challenge to long-standing assumptions about what Maltese writing can be.
Whether this approach will have a lasting impact on the wider literary landscape remains to be seen. However, for Vella and Gatt, the objective is clear.
"We're not trying to replicate what already exists," Vella said. "We're trying to create something different - and to make sure it lasts."