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“The Maltese National Anthem still unites us and promotes unity” – President George Vella

PRESS RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

On the occasion of the centenary of the Maltese National Anthem, President George Vella stated that the Maltese National Anthem is part of the people’s collective memory, and it still serves as a compass pointing us towards cherishing our values.

In an event in honour of the National Poet Dun Karm Psaila, with the theme “L-Innu Malti – 100 sena magħna”, President Vella said that “the Maltese National Anthem still unites us and promotes unity”, even though its verses were written a century ago and some words feel old or may irk some of us in this day and age.

President Vella remarked that the Maltese National Anthem is essentially a prayer that reminds us of our very dear religious heritage and that it is intrinsically fundamental in the history and culture of Malta and Europe. The President said that the words of the Maltese National Anthem are entirely Semitic but written in a Latin and Italian literary form. In his speech, the President quoted Professor Oliver Friggieri when he said that “Dun Karm wrote six verses that reflect the essence of Malta’s character: Christian Religion, Semitic Language, and European Culture.” He added that apart from being a prayer for peace among the Maltese people, the Maltese National Anthem also depicts two great cultures intertwined.

Therefore, the President appealed to keep on singing the Maltese National Anthem, a symbol of our identity, in schools and on special occasions. As citizens, we should cherish the identity, sovereignty and history of our country as expressed in the lyrics of the national anthem, concluded President Vella.

The commemorative event in honour of the National Poet on the centenary of the Maltese National Anthem was organised by Festivals Malta for the National Festivities Committee and L-Akkademja tal-Malti under the distinguished patronage of the President of Malta and Mrs Vella.

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