October is always synonymous with the birth and death of Malta’s National Poet Dun Karm Psaila, who was born in Zebbug, Malta, on the 18th of October 1871.

In 1894 he was ordained priest and he published his first collection of poems in 1896. Dun Karm wrote his early poetry in Italian, but started writing in Maltese from 1912 onwards, becoming one of the leading figures in Maltese literary writing and in the promotion of the Maltese language.

In 1921 Dun Karm wrote the verses of the Innu Malti, the Maltese national anthem. In 1945 the Royal University of Malta bestowed on him an honorary degree of Doctor of Literature. In 1956 he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his contribution to Maltese literature. Dun Karm died on 13 October 1961, aged 90.

On Friday, the 17th of October, the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education and the National Festivities Committee will be holding a ceremony for school children as a reminder of this great Maltese Poet. The ceremony will take place adjacent to his monument in Floriana.

The children will parade from Floriana Primary School in the morning at 10 am, where a ceremony will then be held, with poetry reading by students and the laying of flowers at the monument.

There will be speeches by the Minister of Education Dr Evarist Bartolo, and the Director General for Quality and Standards in Education, Mr Ian Mifsud. The singer Doreen Galea will sing some poems of Dun Karm, with original music by composer Dominic Galea.

Other organised events include a commemorative evening at the San Anton Palace, Attard, on Thursday, the 23rd of October, starting at 7pm organised by the National Festivities Committee and the Akkademja tal-Malti.

Maltese poet Achille Mizzi will talk about English poetry after Dun Karm. Prof. Oliver Friggieri will speak about the significance of the verses in present day of the National Anthem.

Also participating during the evening will be the Gozo choir ‘Chorus Urbanus’ under the direction of Mro John Galea, who will be performing poetry of Dun Karm

In Gozo a commemorative event will take place in the Ministry for Gozo Hall on Monday, the 27th of October, starting at 7pm, organised by the National Festivities Committee in conjunction with the Gozo National and Regional Celebrations Committee and Akkademja tal-Malti.

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