Gypsy Jazz And Għana: Ritmu Roots Festival Celebrates Traditional Music From Around The World
A new festival celebrating traditional Maltese and World music has just been announced.
Ritmu Roots Festival Malta 2023 is an international festival, showcasing authentic, contemporary performances of traditional music which aim to inspire and connect people. The festival is spread over three main venues running over a week.
Speaking to Lovin Malta, artistic director Andrew Alamango describes the aims of the festival- “Ritmu is a platform for traditional performing-arts, highlighting the Maltese vocal tradition għana.”
“It includes a strong education and awareness programme through activities which are aimed at informing new audiences and introducing younger generations to the tradition, its practitioners and its performance.”
The 2023 edition of Ritmu Roots Music Festival is dedicated to the renowned għannej Mikiel Abela ‘Il-Bambinu’, who as humorous storyteller (makkjettist) and singer was admired for his quick-wit (spirtu pront), his humour and his ballads.
“As Artistic Director I am in charge of devising the vision and programming for this roots festival that aims to educate and create an awareness of the linguistic tradition.”
“The idea this year is to encourage people to engage with tradition in an active way, as tradition evolves and develops through engagement.”
“Għana, an age old troubadour tradition is still very much practised and is alive and well in Malta. It is seen as a sub culture as it is only practised by a marginal group of people. It does however have a large audience of aficionados and dilettanti who avidly follow the singers wherever they show up.”
“The festival aims to showcase and support its practice and the practitioners to support and ensure its ongoing practice in the future.”
Eduardo Trassierra Duo
The festival will host top international artists at the main stage at Argotti Gardens (9th and 10th June), presenting quality performances of traditional music, reflecting the Maltese vocal and guitar tradition in the context of the Euro-Mediterranean musical traditions.
With the first evening dedicated to the guitar, the main stage will feature flamenco guitar virtuosity by Eduardo Trassiera Duo (Spain) and gypsy manouche guitar by Tchavolo Schmitt Trio (France).
The second day will focus on the vocal tradition with Fado singer Ana Margarida (Portugal) and Occitane polyphonic chant by La Mal Coiffée (France). Featuring also are local guitarists Mark Axiak and Jimmy Bartolo, and a set up by Mariele Zammit and Joe Debono each presenting new works based on the għana vocal and guitar tradition.
La Mal Coiffé
The botanical gardens will also host music, collectors, a local poet, a discussion with folk singers, a workshop for kids and adults in singing local makkjetti.
There will also be other peripheral events happening around the island. The festival will kick off with an għana serata in Żejtun ( 2nd June)- ‘Għana Għand Tal-Iiżgej’. Hosted by the għannejja, this is an exciting opportunity to experience għana in its authentic and grassroots context.
The garage belonging to Mikiel Cumbo, affectionately known as Liżgej’, will serve as the venue for the showcase of some of the finest singers, guitarists, and practitioners of the għana tradition.
The ‘Għana Lab’, at Splendid House in Strait Street will serve as a venue for a programme for the launch of the exhibition, Bil-Mixi Ġejt: The Life and Times of Il-Bambinu curated by Charlie Cauchi. The evening will be opened by renowned għana singers Etienne who will recount memories and works of the late Mikiel Abela ‘Il-Bambinu’ and balladeer Lili Abela Il-Fenka. Open between the 4 and the 10 June, The Splendid will also serve as a venue for activities, including the broadcast of a 10 min documentary by Adrian Camilleri, music workshops, talks, and guitar performances by Gitgħana.
‘Għana Għand Tal-Iiżgej’, Żejtun: 2nd June
Splendid in Strait Street: 4-10 June
Argotti Gardens, Floriana: 9-10 June
Ritmu Roots Festival Malta is organised by Festivals Malta, and is supported by the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government (Kultura) and is sponsored by General Soft Drinks Ltd.
Cover Photo Credit
Left: Ana Margarida
Right: Pedro Nel Martinez González and Felix Vázquez
Do you think you’ll check out the Ritmu Roots Festival?
READ NEXT: Malta Philharmonic Orchestra Official Guilty Of Sexual Harassment Has Sentence Diminished By Appeals Court
