Difference between revisions of "Mikiel Bonnici n-Negli"
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Bonnici was to folk sing with Sultana at the Sydney Opera House on the centenary of Maltese emigration to Australia, recalling the words | Bonnici was to folk sing with Sultana at the Sydney Opera House on the centenary of Maltese emigration to Australia, recalling the words | ||
''Mitt sena ilu minn ġo Malta | ''Mitt sena ilu minn ġo Malta'' | ||
''L-Maltin qabdu jemigraw | ''L-Maltin qabdu jemigraw'' | ||
''Issa waslet il-festa tagħna | ''Issa waslet il-festa tagħna'' | ||
''Mela ejja lilha niċċellebraw.'' | ''Mela ejja lilha niċċellebraw.'' | ||
He was then to feature on a makjetta song, together with [[Fredu Abela l-Bamboċċu]] and [[Renald Abela l-Bamboċċu]], entitled ''Tliet Għażżenin'', which was released on vinyl. | He was then to feature on a makjetta song, together with [[Fredu Abela l-Bamboċċu]] and [[Renald Abela l-Bamboċċu ż-Żgħir]], entitled ''Tliet Għażżenin'', which was released on vinyl. | ||
Revision as of 15:32, 24 February 2014
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Mikiel Bonnici n-Negli
is an improvised verse folk singer. He was born on the 5th of August, 1945 and hails from Żejtun. His father was Ġanmari Bonnici Tat-Tloppi, a coal heaver and cousin to Pawlu Seychell l-Għannej. Mikiel's nickname In-Negli was given to him for the family he hanged around with.
Bonnici grew up in the Santa Marija neighbourhood, close to Our Lady's chapel. As a young fourteen year old he used to row his father fishing boat in San Tumas, while the latter was octopus fishing or gather sea urchins. People in Żejtun knew him as a sea urchin seller until he emigrated to Australia through the assisted passage scheme. He was to spend thirty five years in Australia, and prior to emigrating, had only attended one folk singing event due to the encouragement of Mikiel Abela l-Bambinu, in Żabbar where he heard Leli Sultana l-Moni, Ġużeppi Camilleri l-Jimmy tal-Fjur, Żaren Mifsud ta' Vestru and Salvu Darmanin Ir-Ruġel. It was here when he realized that he had għana in him.
In West Melbourne he met two young cousins from Żejtun, both known as Nenu ta' Peppin, who asked him to join them on an għana recording that they were sending to their relatives in Malta. The first time In-Negli publicly folk sang was around 1966 in the North Sunshine Hall, adjacent to the Catholic church, when he partook in a bout of improvised verse that had a farrad, an uneven number with Żaren Attard Il-Bukkaċċ, Leli Sultana l-Moni, Salvu Galea tal-Kalora and Toni Pullicino t-Tullier, with the folk sung subject being engaged to be married. Galea continued to encouraged him to folk sing.
Bonnici was to folk sing with Sultana at the Sydney Opera House on the centenary of Maltese emigration to Australia, recalling the words
Mitt sena ilu minn ġo Malta L-Maltin qabdu jemigraw Issa waslet il-festa tagħna Mela ejja lilha niċċellebraw.
He was then to feature on a makjetta song, together with Fredu Abela l-Bamboċċu and Renald Abela l-Bamboċċu ż-Żgħir, entitled Tliet Għażżenin, which was released on vinyl.