Brown Rice & Aħn'aħna jew m'Aħniex? - in brief

In 1988, Maltese television audiences were introduced to a new form of entertainment that combined sharp political satire, parody, and music. The programme Aħn' Aħna jew m'Aħniex?, produced by Peppi Azzopardi, Joe Camilleri, Joe Debono and Joe Saliba, was considered a breakthrough in Maltese broadcasting. It presented news satire, candid camera sketches, and topical commentary, breaking away from the traditional formats of Maltese TV. The show quickly became a cultural phenomenon, not least because of its regular musical contributors: the band Brown Rice.

Brown Rice, a collective of talented musicians and performers including Vince Fabri, Brian Muscat, Daniel Muscat, John Mallia, Joe Debono (RIP), Wilfred Kenely, Paul Mintoff, Jesmond Sharples, Christabelle Scerri, Angele Gouder, Cecilia Testa, Nestru Camilleri (RIP), Doreen Agius Cutajar, Joan Bugeja, and Christine Scerri, was central to the programme's success. Their witty lyrics, biting commentary, and energetic performances mirrored the irreverence of the show itself. As Vince Fabri later reflected, satire was about “holding up a mirror to society” (Independent, 2022).

One of the most memorable moments came during the Premju Nazzjonali Ħaddiema tas-Sena—the Worker of the Year Award—held at Sala Sir Temi Żammit, University of Malta, in November 1988. At this event, Brown Rice performed alongside Brown Rice Junior, a younger offshoot of the group that had been formed through the TV programme itself. The younger ensemble featured Pawlu Borg Bonaci, Marvin Zammit, David Micallef, Sandro Debono, Sandro Gatt, Mark Pace, Angelica Coppini, Francesca Briffa (née Coppini), Andromeda Booth (Saliba), Vanessa Saliba, Christian Azzopardi, and Kenneth. Together, the two groups offered a unique intergenerational performance, remembered today as a landmark in Maltese entertainment history.

The award ceremony itself was historic, as it was the inaugural edition of the Premju Nazzjonali Ħaddiema tas-Sena. That year, the award went to Martin Grasso, but it was the performance by Brown Rice and Brown Rice Junior that left a cultural imprint. The clip, believed to have been filmed on Friday 25th November 1988, captures the vibrant energy of the era and the innovative spirit of the programme (Soundcloud: Vince Fabri).

Brown Rice Junior went on to tour and perform live at several local festivities, further cementing its popularity. Many of its members have since remained active in Malta’s expressive, dramatic, and visual arts scenes. This continuation of artistic engagement underscores the programme’s lasting influence on Malta’s cultural landscape.

Brown Rice’s popularity extended beyond the TV screen. Around the same time, several of the songs performed on the show were released on cassette under the title Aħn' Aħna Jew M’Aħniex?. The collection included tracks such as “Inħarsu l-Ambjent,” “Nibnu Darna,” “Parla Parla Parlament,” “Maskri Maskri,” “Ħajja Twila,” and “Tgħallem Idħaq,” among others. Music was composed by Vince Fabri, with lyrics by Fabri, Joe Saliba, and Joe Azzopardi. The recording was handled by Tony Scott, while the cover design was created by Aldo Gatt. This release ensured that the sharp wit and memorable tunes of Brown Rice reached audiences beyond the weekly broadcast, solidifying their place in Maltese musical history.

The legacy of Aħn' Aħna jew m’Aħniex? is still discussed today. The Times of Malta once noted the significance of the show in shaping a generation of viewers who became more accustomed to political satire and self-reflection (Times of Malta, 2019). MaltaToday, looking back at the cultural shifts of the late 1980s, described it as a bold departure that “challenged the boundaries of what could be said—and sung—on national television” (MaltaToday, 2002).

At the centre of this creative storm was Vince Fabri, lyricist and performer, whose body of work continues to influence Maltese artistic expression. His reflections and songs, including those collected and uploaded on Soundcloud, keep alive the spirit of Aħn' Aħna jew m’Aħniex? and the irreverent humour of Brown Rice.

The programme and its musical collaborators helped redefine Maltese entertainment, showing that satire, parody, and music could combine to reflect society’s truths. As Fabri himself once noted in an interview, “the role of the artist is to disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed” (Oocities, Ramona Depares). In this sense, Brown Rice, Brown Rice Junior, and Aħn' Aħna jew m’Aħniex? did not just entertain—they reshaped the cultural narrative of Malta in the late 20th century.