This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of pioneering Gozitan poet Mary Meilak. In order to celebrate her contribution to the Romantic period of Maltese literary history, the Maltese Language Centre, in collaboration with the Arts Council Malta, has funded the creation of a CD entitled Mara.

Mara is produced by Lito’s Space, with songs built on the lyrics of six poems from Meilak’s repertoire of poems and set to music by Mro Dominic Galea.

Minister for Culture, Arts and Local Government Owen Bonnici, during the launch of Mara, praised the contribution of Mary Meilak to the development of the Maltese language.

He saluted all those who worked on this project and emphasised the fact that this work also has relevance in the educational field since two of the poems – Xita and Gejja x-Xita – are included in the non-prescriptive Maltese syllabus for the seventh and eighth scholastic years.

“Therefore, a CD like this offers a valuable resource for teachers because they can be integrated into the classroom in a pedagogical and creative way so that students are given an artistic dimension that complements the art of the word shaped into poetry,” stated Minister Bonnici.

Dr Maris Camilleri, Acting Chief Executive of the Maltese Language Centre, praised the collaboration between the Centre and the Arts Council Malta and stressed that ”synergies like these are the way forward so that we can continue to support various projects and initiatives whose aim is to ensure that the Maltese language remains alive, relevant, and visible, while continuing to spread in all areas.”

She praised Mary Meilak’s contribution and stressed that as a woman and as an academic in the field of Maltese, she felt that with a sense of duty she could not let this anniversary pass without shining the deserved light on a pioneer in the Maltese literary field.

This musical album based on 6 poems by Mary Meilak was launched in the very month that also marks the second anniversary of the establishment of the Maltese Language Centre.

This conference was attended by entities and individuals who have been working for years in support of the Maltese language, including the Maltese Academy, the Maltese Teachers’ Association, the Maltese Education Officers, members of the National Council for the Maltese Language, as well as the renowned author Trevor Zahra.

Photo: DOI/Daniel Scicluna

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