A public talk about the lyrics of Brikkuni

On Tuesday, 6 November at 6pm, Sephora Francalanza is giving a public talk in Maltese on L-Idjoma Brikkuna fil-Lirika ta’ Mario Vella in the Faculty of Arts Library of the University of Malta in Tal-Qroqq.

This talk is part of the Oral Tradition series, which is now in its third year, and is hosted by the Department of Maltese at the University. This event is open to everyone and entrance is free. This project is supported by the Research Grants Programme of the University of Malta and Klabb Kotba Maltin.

The song lyrics of the well-established Maltese band Brikkuni are full of popular expressions. In spite of their seemingly common language, the text toys around, often in rather audacious ways, with popular idioms and metaphors, subverting them and engaging critically with shared thoughts and experiences. Brikkuni’s lyrics often offer a mischievous glance at the Maltese people: their worldview, interests, weaknesses and obsessions. Mario Vella’s text overflows both with standard Maltese idioms and current unconventional expressions used by the locals that are not found in books.

In this talk, the speaker will be analysing the Maltese idioms, or hints thereof, that are found in Brikkuni’s three albums, using some examples from her B. A. (Honours) dissertation in Maltese, titled Bejn Kanzunetta u Poeżija: Il-Lirika tal-Brikkuni. This study analyses the literary in Brikkuni’s song lyrics.

Francalanza read for a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Maltese. In 2017 she became president of the student organisation Għaqda tal-Malti – Università, which runs projects and organises events that promote Maltese language and literature. She was also general editor of the 37th issue of Leħen il-Malti, which is being launched during this year’s edition of the Malta Book Festival. Francalanza is currently reading for a Master’s degree and working in the field of journalism.