Ritmu - Nisa, Jgħannu - Women, Chanting

Since the early 20th century, and particularly in post-war Malta, the public practice of traditional chant, għana (Maltese traditional folk singing), has been dominated by men. This context is mainly reserved to male-dominated environments such as bars, tea shops and każini or social clubs, where għannejja (traditional Maltese folk singers)  would get together at the end of the day to verbalise and process the events of their daily life. 

Typically improvised four-line stanzas, traditional singing is usually accompanied by the sound of guitars, where words and sung poetry serve as a catharsis; both individual and collective. Saying what needs to be said, għannejja would gather in public and sing their hearts out to express themselves. 

Troubadours of renown are surrounded by dilettanti (aficionados) who document, record and transmit their verses, passing on the legacy of their bravado. Furthermore, from the middle of the 20th century, male singers and guitarists were extensively recorded on the national radio…