Ninu Gatt Ir-Rajsu

Ninu Gatt Ir-Rajsu

Ninu Gatt Ir-Rajsu.

is an improvised verse folk singer. He was born on the 20th February 1947 and hails from Żebbuġ. He grew up in Triq l-Anġli, close to the Angels' Chapel where his parents, both from Żebbuġ lived. His father was from the Tal-Lekkuku family, his mother from Tar-Randan.

He is quite unsure about the real origin of his nickname Ir-Rajsu, but remembers that he was called so when still a child by his grandmother, upset that he had just walked on her wet floor. Hence she exclaimed Qisek ir-rajsu tgħaffeġ, which literally translates 'You walk across the floors just like a captain.' derived from the Maltese word 'rajjes', a captain or leader.

Gatt didn't have any relatives who folksang, nor was be brought up following għana. It all started by coincidence. As a young twenty-year old he didn't own a car, but one of his friends from Żebbuġ did. When the weekends came, it happened that he was constantly outnumbered three to one by his friends who opted to go down to Żejtun to attend to a folk music session, rather than frequent the bright lights of Valletta, the capital.

He is one of the most renowned folksingers who is currently inactive.