Fredu Abela ż-Żejtuni
Fredu Abela Iż-Żejtuni
is a known and respected folksinger from Żejtun, born on the 16th October 1940. He started folk singing in 1958, quite by coincidence.
It was on the eve of a general strike in April, when Abela, together with some friends who folk-sung, including Karmenu Il-Botna and Ċikku Iż-Żeżin went to St Thomas Bay, to while the evening away, knowing that the next day the country would be at a standstill. He claims that għana is a gift from God, and is a talent that one is born with it within his spirit.
His favourite folksinger is Pawlu Seychell Il-Għannej, for whom he has sung a cadence, that has now become part of folk legend, in Toronto, Canada. Abela has sung in many venues in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, on the five times he has visited Australia over a span of thirty years.
External Links
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rECeXMf2ZD0 Performing in Sydney in 2006.
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFvdwnwreDo Cadence sung in honour of Pawlu Seychell