għana - Traditional Maltese Singing

Spirtu pront għana - Malta

I went specifically to see this having seen a 'flyer' advertising the traditional music as part of a festival lasting a few days. Before it started, I sat in a cafe very near where the stage was set up, and the waitress asked if I'd come to hear the music. When I said I has, she grimaced and assured me I would not like it and I shouldn't think all music on Malta was like this.

This is obviously a tiny sample of what took place. It lasted perhaps half an hour, and I freely admit it took me ten minutes or so to begin to 'get it', though it was obvious from the start that there was something special here.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Spirtu
• pront
• għana
• Malta
• Maltese

[dmcglade]

Then I am afraid I can't help you any further!

I have updated the description of how I came to record it.

[blahdelablah]

Can anyone offer a quick translation of what they are singing about? Would be interested to know. : )

[dmcglade]

I can't actually translate it, but it is an extemporary form of competion. Each singer has to make a verse praising Malta (Valleta in particular) and the next has to compose a response, then a response to that response and so on. The competition is lost when you can't make up a reply. There do also seem to be a number of standard verses you can use but I'm not quite sure how these fit in - maybe you have three chances, or something like that.

[charlie2wheels]

Beautiful ghana. Ganni ta' Birzebbuga, hello minn Charlie taz-Zejtun - tislima minn New York lil kumplament u lil Profs.

[LeeCee89]

Gotta Love traditional Maltese Folk,

Sadley nothing comes close to it.

what is also sad is that it does not recieve the appreciation it deserves. it takes skill and guts to sing like the Maltese.

[boilinghotfrog]

Hey I am Maltese, with an Arabic originating surname and am proud of my Arabic background.

[kristonren]

I was witness to Maltese Ghana this weekend in Bormla.... My god, Im all for culture.. but this was too much....

my ears just cant take, my brain couldnt process it....

[BestaHansen]

@cvnbvx

I can not agree. Maltese is a semitic language just like Arameic, Oldhebrew, Hebrew or Phoenician. Arabic influence is minimal, even when you listen to the music. Some similarities there? NOT AT ALL! Even Spanish music can have some arabic elements because of the Arabic occupation, but Malta? Radiculous with all respect for the Arabian culture - Malta is in another club since the 1st Century! God bless North Africa, but don't mix Maltese culture with Arabian just because of language!

[cvnbvx]

@BestaHansen

yea maltese they have a complex about their language, history, culture..they are shy and not proud of their arabic background. I'm tunisian and i understand 80 % of the maltese dialect which is very similar to the tunisian arabic accent. God bless our brothers in malta

[irateofwatford]

I think I shall learn Maltese when I retire, and take up Gђana singing myself. It's such a gutsy sound, it makes the soles of my feet tingle. Well done, people. Keep it up.

[maltinbiss]

Tislima lil Dr Ġorġ Mifsud Chircop - etnografista u studjuż li għamel ħafna ġid lill-Ilsien Malti. Sliem.

[theadventuresofmary]

best voice :L

I've never been to Malta, but it looks so beautiful!! full of culture and fun. It would be great to bring some of the culture back to Australia, bc whenever people ask me like, "so what do you maltese people do and celebrate" i sit there like "whaaattt?"

[BestaHansen]

I love Maltese music and culture, many people does, but it is so tipical that Maltese themselves don't apreciate it! A kind of complex which iritates me.

People of Malta! Your culture and history is older and richer than English or Italian so stop to be ashamed! Be as you are, be proud and keep your Faith, aspecially now, when all of Europe goes to...

God bless Malta!

[cristinatachecha]

Can you put some new Ghana Music please and thank you all the way from Canada

[raakone]

Nice music!