The sixth Edition of the Qala International folk festival organised by the Qala Local Council and the Qala Menhir Folk Group, which is taking place between the 15th and 18th of September 2011, will transform the picturesque village of Qala, Gozo, into a hub of meticulously organised Folk activities which will give a deep insight into the way ancestors thought and lived in our islands and in other countries.

Huge crowds of Gozitans, Maltese, foreign residents and tourists will live a few days in the past savouring the unique atmosphere which is vividly created by the minutely detailed re-enactment of the traditional Maltese Wedding in dazzling costumes. As well as the excellent performances of three world renowned foreign folk groups together with the Qala Menhir Folk Group.

This festival which is partly sponsored through the NGOs scheme launched by the Ministry for Gozo associated with the plan of action 2010-2012 on eco Gozo, to organise Cultural activities between the months of September and May, takes locals closer to their roots, familiarises them with the culture of their ancestors and helps them explore and better understand their identity which further develops their national personality.It also throws light on the island’s culture for the foreigners present who crave to know about the culture of the people they are visiting or living with.

The traditional songs, dances, music and costumes of the three foreign groups will help both hosts and guests to compare and contrast cultures and seek and discover unity in diversity which brings people closer to each other, enhancing mutual appreciation. As Dr Chris Said Parliamentary Secretary for Consumers, Fairs competition, Local Councils and Public Dialogue aptly said “The Qala International Folk Festival has established itself as a corner-stone of Gozo’s cultural calendar.”

The traditional Maltese Wedding (Sunday 18th September 2011 at 10.00am) transforms Qala’s main street and squares into a medieval village with scores of men, women and children wearing elaborate costumes, horses drawing carts, shepherds tending sheep, women working lace and children playing traditional games. The ceremony starts with the wooing in Bishop Buttigieg Square, opposite the Qala Local Council’s offices and then the procession proceeds to St. Joseph Square. On lookers join in to feel part of the proceeding. Everyone then makes their way to the church Square and the wedding vows are taken on the church Purvis. A ‘festin’ with traditional delicacies brings the ceremony to an end.

The local Gozitan and Maltese traditional handcrafts Exhibition will be opened at the end of the wedding re-enactment.

The Foreign group taken part in the QIFF 2011 Brestchanka from Bielarussia, the Inis Elga School of Irish dancing from Ireland and the Citta dei Tempili folk Band from Italy.

All the foreign guest groups have travelled the world and will provide a blend of traditional Folk dance. Besides performing in St. Joseph’s Square these groups will be extending the folk performances at Marsaskala and St. Julian’s on Friday, the 16th of September 2011. They will also actively participate in the International Folk Conference, also part of the QIFF, which will be held at the Cittadella Centre for Culture and Arts in Victoria, on Saturday, the 17th of September 2011, at 9.00am, with the theme ‘Gozo heritage in Stone.’

In this 3rd conference, the Mayor of Qala, Paul Buttigieg, explained “We will try to explore and discuss together the good old times, traditions, costumes and folklore, all of which play such an important role in preserving our own indigenous heritage.” The foreign groups participating in the QIFF 2011 will compile power point presentations about their respective country’s heritage in stone. This conference is sponsored by scheme issued from Eco Gozo – Gozo Ministry.

The dance and song festival will be inaugurated on Thursday, the 15th of September 2011, at 7.30pm in St. Joseph Square, Qala, with the participation of the three foreign groups, the Qala Menhir Junior folk group and the Qala Menhir Folk Group.

On Friday these folk groups will perform in Malta, while in Qala’s main Square there will be a ‘Lejla Folkloristika,’ with the participation of David Azzopardi, Enzo Guzman and The Green Fields. The second performance will be held on Saturday and will be followed by a concert by Freddie Portelli.

The Festival will come to spectacular close on Sunday, the 18th of September 2011 at 7.30pm with a grand finale of Colour, Music, Songs and dancing by the foreign groups and the Qala Menhir group. The Minister for Gozo, Gioivanna Debono said, “through supporting the Menhir Qala Folk group, the Qala Local Council is acknowledging and promoting the importance of the traditional and folkloristic heritage of the Locality. The Qala International Folk Festival is exposing and promoting Gozitan traditions within regional, national and international circles.”

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