Arts Council defends għana from lazy journalism that took it to task

The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts (MCCA) has taken up the mantle of Maltese folk singing in a direct reply to media reports that attempted to take umbrage at political overtones during an exhibition of singers in the run-up to the annual Għanafest 2013 launch.

The Arts Council was referring to news reports and internet blogs that took to task the broadcast of a folk singer's tribute to newly-elected Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

"Watching the għannejja in their territory, uncensored and unsanitised, seems to have caused several ripples and exposed a number of sensitive layers. These ripples raise several questions about the Maltese people's view of 'culture'," the Council said.

The Għanafest launch was divided into two parts: the first part was a press conference held at the Żejtun bar Red Stars by parliamentary secretary José Herrera and artistic director Ruben Zahra.

Għannejja performed a makkjetta and an example of għana fil-għoli, two diverse forms of għana, intended to showcase the Maltese folk song's variety. The press conference then moved to Ta' Ġanna Bar in Żejtun, where the għannejja gather to perform every Sunday.

"The idea was to offer an authentic experience of għana in its grassroots setting, an unsanitised view of local għana - and not a preview of Għanafest," the Arts Council said.

"They raise challenging questions for Maltese culture today which the MCCA intends to discuss in various platforms. What, for instance, comprises Maltese culture? Is a play staged in a national theatre classified as 'culture' - while għana in a village bar is not?

"Are we willing to accept political references in other art forms - but not in għana? Is Maltese society ready to accept true political references in Carnival, for example? What makes us Maltese? How much do we really know about Maltese society in general? Does culture consist of only one layer? Is a sanitised or politically correct or censored view of culture ever preferable? Is the unpalatable - not culture? And who decides?"

Għanafest will celebrate the diversity of Mediterranean folk music, bringing together a rich programme of għana, Maltese music bands and foreign folk bands.

This year's theme is "Islands" and musicians from Crete, Corsica and Sardinia will take audiences on a musical journey at the Argotti botanical gardens, where the Festival is held annually.

"The MCCA celebrates għana as an authentic art form, without any agenda of censorship," the Arts Council said.

"We also recognise għana as an important value of Maltese culture and seek to promote the celebration of this form of art by a sector of Maltese society. The MCCA has various platforms showcasing different art forms, catering for different tastes and all to a level of organisational excellence. All our national festivals reflect these aspects."