2nd Malta Festival of Ideas ǀ Closing Concert – Etnika

A quarter-century has passed since Etnika emerged from an ambitious effort to resurrect Malta's neglected heritage music, uncovering dormant instruments and songs that they reimagined with contemporary vitality. This sparked widespread recognition both domestically and across the globe. Following extensive international performances and a prolonged break, the ensemble has regrouped as a lean six-member collective featuring the oud, traditional Maltese flute, flamenco percussion, upright bass, and vocals. Their musical expression balances restraint with exploration—a moving expedition traversing Malta's landscape and Mediterranean horizons, where ancestral customs intertwine with the novel and surprising. Erbgħa ħmistax sena ilu, Etnika nqalgħat minn inizjattiva ambizzjuża biex tħeġġeġ lura l-mużika tradizzjonali Maltija li kienet mitnesa, taddiskrivi strumenti u imħattet li bidilhom b'friskezza contemporanja. Dan iġġenera rikonoxximent wiesgħa kemm ġewwa kif ukoll 'l barra. Wara esibizzjonijiet internazzjonali estessin u ftit ta' żmien ta' tbatija, il-grupp idu mill-ġdid b'sitt voci b'oud, flewt Maltija tradizzjonali, perkussjoni flamenka, bażż rqiq, u kant. L-espressjoni mużikali tagħhom tissalvagwarda l-isqat u l-esplorasyon—vjaġġ li jharġ imħatttu mil-Gżira u l-ufq Mediterranew, fejn l-kostumi anċestrali jitħabbtu mad-dak il-ġdid u d-dak li mhux stmat qabel.