Ġużé Bonnici

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Ġużé Bonnici

Ġużé Bonnici (14 August 1907 - 6 October 1940) was a Maltese writer.

He graduated as a medical doctor in 1931 and 7 years later became Head of Department of Venerology and Dermatology at the Central Hospital in Floriana. Together with his colleague Rużar Briffa, he founded the Għaqda tal-Malti (Università). Among the forst members were Dun Karm Psaila, Ġużé Chetcuti, Pietru Pawl Saydon, Ġużè Galea and Ninu Cremona. But the University authorities deprived this committee to meet on campus and therfore they had to meet at Ġużé’s father’s house.

Bonnici, along with Ġorġ Pisani, Anton Buttigieg and Ġużé Chetcuti founded the Xirka ghat-Tixrid ta’ l-Ilsien Malti. He was the first President and meetings took place at the Anglo-Maltese League Club in Valletta.

At a time when it was hard to find a printing press ready to print books in Maltese, Bonnici had to buy a small printing press himself to print his own works. His books include Ħelsien, Imħabba u Mibgħeda, Lejn ix-Xemx and Il-Qawwa ta’ l-Imħabba.

Ġużé Bonnici became a member of the Labour Party when he was 19. Two years later he became part of the party’s executive committee, and was the youngest one in the position. In 1931 he wrote the first history of the party.