Press Release | In-Naħla Katerina Song Unveiled: Biżż Biżż Biżż Happy World Bee Day 2025!

This year’s World Bee Day marks an exciting milestone for environmental education in Malta with the official launch of In-Naħla Katerina (Katerina the Bee)—a cheerful new children’s song and character that are set to become fixtures in schools across the country. Developed as part of the project Maltese Honey Bee Education Through Songs and Rhymes, the song and its accompanying mascot aim to inspire curiosity, language development, and ecological responsibility among Malta’s youngest learners.

This initiative is made possible through the Small Initiatives Support Scheme (SIS), managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) and supported by the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV). The project is being coordinated by Dylan Farrugia and Abner Joe Buttigieg on behalf of the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee.

A Celebration of the Maltese Honey Bee

The star of the project, In-Naħla Katerina, introduces young audiences to Malta’s own endemic honey bee—Apis mellifera ruttneri—through a spirited original song written and composed by Michael Piscopo and sung by Phyllisienne Brincat, the same celebrated team behind the popular children’s tune Fonzu l-Fenek. The Maltese Honey Bee, plays a vital role in local pollination and the island’s biodiversity. In-Naħla Katerina brings this small yet mighty insect to life through lyrics and melody that depict the bee’s daily tasks—from visiting flowers to returning to the hive at sunset. These vivid musical images help children connect with the natural world around them and encourage a sense of environmental responsibility from a young age.

But In-Naħla Katerina is more than just a catchy tune. Developed with expert pedagogical input from Professor Suzanne Piscopo, the song has been carefully crafted to be age-appropriate, educational, and engaging for children aged 0 to 6. It offers a unique way to spark early interest in environmental topics while also supporting key areas of early childhood development—particularly language and motor skills.

In-Naħla Katerina: The Face of the Maltese Honey Bee

Learning Maltese Through Song

A key feature of In-Naħla Katerina is its ability to support language learning, especially for children aged 0 to 6 years. Singing has long been recognised as a powerful tool in early language development, helping children to improve memory, pronunciation, and vocabulary. The song introduces a range of simple and more advanced Maltese words, providing an enjoyable and structured way for children to engage with their native language.

Sounds, Rhythm, and Movement

The song’s playful use of sound, especially the repeating “Bzz Bzz Bzz” refrain, mimics the buzzing of a bee and instantly captures children’s attention. This sound play helps develop phonemic awareness—an essential building block for literacy. Its rhythmic structure also lends itself perfectly to movement-based learning.

One especially interactive line goes:

“Bzz Bzz Bzz, she flutters her wings, and those behind her, do the same.”

This line invites children to flutter their arms like wings and follow each other in a line, promoting gross motor skills, spatial awareness, and group cooperation. These types of activities are especially suited to early years education and make learning joyful and memorable.

A Trio of Songs for a Greater Cause

In-Naħla Katerina is the first in a series of three original songs being released throughout 2025 as part of the Foundation’s broader educational effort. Each song focuses on a different theme:

• In-Naħla Katerina (Katerina the Bee) – Celebrating this remarkable insect’s role in Malta’s ecosystem.
• Festin Għad-Dakkara (A Feast for Pollinators) – A lively exploration of how bees and other pollinators are essential to food production and biodiversity. (To be released on 16th June 2025 to mark Pollinator Week.)
• In-Naħla u Sħabha: L-Għanja tal-Ispeċi Nazzjonali (The Bee and Her Friends: The Song of the National Species) – A celebratory finale highlighting the designation of the Maltese Honey Bee as a National Species, along with other native flora and fauna. (To be released on 24th September 2025, first anniversary of the Maltese Honey Bee being declared a national species.)

All songs will be accompanied by visually engaging videos and sung in Maltese, reinforcing both ecological and linguistic learning.

A Future Full of Buzz

With the launch of In-Naħla Katerina, the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee is ushering in a new era of environmental education—one that is dynamic, accessible, and inspiring. By blending music, movement, visuals, and in-person engagement, the project ensures that children not only learn about Malta’s natural heritage, but also form positive emotional connections to it.

As Katerina the Bee begins her journey through Malta’s classrooms, she carries with her a message of hope, joy, and environmental stewardship. Through her song and story, she invites children everywhere to buzz along, sing loud, and help protect the precious biodiversity that makes Malta so special.

To stay up to date with the Foundation’s work, we warmly invite you to join our WhatsApp community. The smooth functioning of our organisation relies on financial resources, and your support is essential. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference in advancing our mission. You can help by joining the Foundation’s cause, become a supporter for just €10 a year or make a donation here: Support the Foundation.

Disclaimer: This project has been funded by the Small Initiatives Support Scheme (SIS) managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) supported by the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV). This project/ publication reflects the views only of the author, and the MCVS cannot be held responsible for the content or any use which may be made of the information contained therein.