Wiċċ Imb Wiċċ mal-Għannej / Meet the Għannej - Joe Busuttil 'il-Bużu'
Step into the world of għana, Malta’s expressive folk singing tradition, in this unique event that brings you face-to-face with a live għannej (folk singer) and guitarists.
This interactive session offers a rare opportunity to delve into the art of għana, exploring the singer’s role, the improvisational nature of the lyrics, and the way they intertwine with the melodies of accompanying guitars. Through live performances and insightful discussions, audiences will gain a deeper appreciation of this treasured musical and linguistic heritage. A Q&A session following the performance will allow attendees to engage directly with the artists, fostering a greater understanding of the tradition.
Meet Joe Busuttil ‘Il-Bużu’
Born in Tarxien on 29th September 1965, Busuttil first experienced the magic of għana at the age of eight, watching performances on Xandir Malta (the former name of Malta’s public broadcastings service) or tuning in via the Rediffusion service (Malta’s former radio broadcasting service). His Sunday mornings were steeped in local tradition; after attending the seven o’clock mass at Tarxien Parish Church, he would head to a local teashop – then known as Ta’ Grabiel (now Pretoria Bar) – where a radio, with its speaker suspended in the corner, broadcast the weekly għana show.
Encouraged by esteemed figures in the għana scene such as Salvu Pace ‘s-Sulari’ and Fredu Abela 'l-Bamboċċu', Busuttil embraced folk singing at fifteen. He also performed alongside notable artists such as Joe Vella Il-Bokser, Ċikku Degiorgio tal-Fjuri, Salvu Galea tal-Kalora, and Żeppi Meli ta' Sika. Today, Busuttil stands as one of Tarxien’s few active folk singers, dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich tradition of Maltese folk music.
Għannej (Traditional Maltese Folk Singer)
Joe Busuttil ‘Il-Bużu’
Kitarristi (Traditional Maltese Folk Guitarists)
Karol Aquilina ‘Ta' Nofsillejl’
George Aquilina ‘Ta' Nofsillejl’
Presenter
Gabriel Lia
Terms & Conditions
Step into the world of għana, Malta’s expressive folk singing tradition, in this unique event that brings you face-to-face with a live għannej (folk singer) and guitarists.
This interactive session offers a rare opportunity to delve into the art of għana, exploring the singer’s role, the improvisational nature of the lyrics, and the way they intertwine with the melodies of accompanying guitars. Through live performances and insightful discussions, audiences will gain a deeper appreciation of this treasured musical and linguistic heritage. A Q&A session following the performance will allow attendees to engage directly with the artists, fostering a greater understanding of the tradition.
Meet Joe Busuttil ‘Il-Bużu’
Born in Tarxien on 29th September 1965, Busuttil first experienced the magic of għana at the age of eight, watching performances on Xandir Malta (the former name of Malta’s public broadcastings service) or tuning in via the Rediffusion service (Malta’s former radio broadcasting service). His Sunday mornings were steeped in local tradition; after attending the seven o’clock mass at Tarxien Parish Church, he would head to a local teashop – then known as Ta’ Grabiel (now Pretoria Bar) – where a radio, with its speaker suspended in the corner, broadcast the weekly għana show.
Encouraged by esteemed figures in the għana scene such as Salvu Pace ‘s-Sulari’ and Fredu Abela 'l-Bamboċċu', Busuttil embraced folk singing at fifteen. He also performed alongside notable artists such as Joe Vella Il-Bokser, Ċikku Degiorgio tal-Fjuri, Salvu Galea tal-Kalora, and Żeppi Meli ta' Sika. Today, Busuttil stands as one of Tarxien’s few active folk singers, dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich tradition of Maltese folk music.
Għannej (Traditional Maltese Folk Singer)
Joe Busuttil ‘Il-Bużu’
Kitarristi (Traditional Maltese Folk Guitarists)
Karol Aquilina ‘Ta' Nofsillejl’
George Aquilina ‘Ta' Nofsillejl’
Presenter
Gabriel Lia