Ritmu Roots Festival - Niftakar Fik, Frans 'il-Budaj' - Concert 2

It was six years ago, while rehearsing for a local production by the name of , that Mariele Zammit first came across the names of local folk singers Frans Baldacchino, 'il-Budaj' and Mikiel Cumbo 'l-Iżgej', the latter from whom Mariele inherited the tradition of għana. Little did Mariele know then that this encounter would mark the start of a long journey.Ilħna Mitlufa - Malta's Lost Voices

In her career as a performing artist, Mariele has crossed paths with many wonderful individuals from

diverse artistic disciplines. Amongst them, is her dear friend and painter, Karen Caruana.

Collaborating with Karen on this project has been a meaningful experience for Mariele, as they delve into

their shared roots in search for the creative essence that binds them.

Frans Baldacchino 'Il-Budaj' Collection, courtesy of .Photo Credit: Magna Żmien