Every June, Malta’s vibrant folk music heritage is celebrated through the popular two-day festival, Għanafest.

But what is Għanafest? Or għana, for that matter? Read on for the lowdown on this massive event that is guaranteed to have something for everyone, no matter if you’re a folk music veteran, or a total folk newbie.

What is Għanafest?

Celebrating Malta’s folk music heritage within a Mediterranean context, Għanafest serves as a platform for Maltese folk musicians and singers to expose their talents to wider audiences, beyond the intimacy of bars in Maltese and Gozitan villages where folk music is traditionally performed.

In fact, Għanafest aims to support a continual revival of such traditional music, encouraging a new generation of folk performers and fans by inspiring a creative and artistic dialogue, where traditional and modern instruments are mixed to create a fresh sound, and where the past and present are blended to ensure the future of għana.

What’s Għana?

Għana – pronounced ‘A-na’ – is traditional Maltese folk singing, which has a number of different variations. For example, in għana tal-fatt, the singer tells a story in verses that relate to a tragic past event, while in għana spirtu pront, two singers engage in a song battle, spontaneously hitting out at each other with sharp and witty retorts. There is also għana fl-għoli, which sounds similar to a flamenco folk song, as the singers perform in an extremely high note or pitch in a style known locally as la Bormliża.

Will there just be għana at Għanafest?

No way! Għanafest annually attracts huge numbers of locals and tourists to join in the fun, and not just for the amazing folk music performances from local and international bands and artists. The festival’s varied programme also features Maltese craftsmanship and gastronomy, literature and traditional children’s games, with movement and hands-on activities enough to entertain the whole family.

Held on different stages throughout the festival, there will be live performances from the għannejja who will perform their għana in a curated setting that recreates the traditional village bar environment, as well as from genre headliners such as The Travellers, Mistura, Skald, Żigarella and Sherazade et Lavion Rose.

The range of activities taking place will this year also include live cooking in collaboration with the Mediterranean Culinary Academy, food tasting with the fishermen's wives, and storytelling in dialect.

Where and when is this year’s Għanafest taking place?

Għanafest 2019 will be held on 21 and 22 June, in the beautiful surroundings of Argotti Gardens in Floriana. More information about Għanafest may be found online.