Snippet of In-Naħla u Sħabha Celebrating Our National Insect

We’re buzzing with excitement to share a first glimpse of our brand-new song! Today, we’re launching a teaser snippet of In-Naħla u Sħabha (L-Għanja tal-Ispeċi Nazzjonali), the third and final song in the educational trilogy celebrating Malta’s endemic honey bee. The full song will be officially released on 24th September 2025, to mark a very special milestone: the first anniversary since the Maltese Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri) was declared Malta’s National Insect.

In-Naħla u Sħabha, which means The Bee and Her Friends, concludes the project Discovering the Maltese Honey Bee: Education Through Songs and Rhymes. This initiative was created to instill a sense of environmental responsibility and national pride in children aged 5 to 8, using music, storytelling, and visuals in the Maltese language. The song is funded through the Small Initiatives Support Scheme (SIS), managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) and financed by the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV). The music video for this song was sponsored by the HSBC Malta Foundation.

This release is particularly significant for the project’s coordinators, Dylan Farrugia and Abner Joe Buttigieg, who were among those advocating for official recognition of the Maltese Honey Bee as Malta’s National Insect. Following the success of In-Naħla Katerina and Festin Għad-Dakkara, this new song takes the educational journey further by introducing all six of Malta’s National Species.

Written and composed by Michael Piscopo with educational input from Professor Suzanne Piscopo, and performed by Claire Marie Busuttil (with vocals by Phyllisienne Brincat, who also featured in the first song), In-Naħla u Sħabha combines fun, facts, and Maltese musical flair. The style blends upbeat ska and reggae rhythms with melodic elements such as accordion and classical guitar, creating a modern yet unmistakably local sound.

Narrated by In-Naħla Katerina, the song introduces young listeners to five other national species: the Mediterranean Killifish (il-Bużaqq), the Blue Rock-Thrush (il-Merill), the Maltese Rock-Centaury (Widnet il-Baħar), the Maltese Freshwater Crab (il-Qabru), and the Sandarac Gum Tree (is-Siġra tal-Għargħar). Each verse celebrates these species’ unique roles in Malta’s ecosystems, encouraging children to cherish and protect their natural surroundings.

The lyrics are designed with young learners in mind, simple, rhythmic, and full of repetition to aid understanding and language development. Phrases like “Nieħdu ħsieb l-ambjent, fejn immorru ma nħammġux,” inspire positive environmental action and reinforce values of care and respect for nature.

A colourful slideshow video, produced by Michael Piscopo, will accompany the full song, bringing these species to life and providing a powerful visual resource for educators and parents alike. So turn up the volume, gather the little ones, and enjoy this sneak peek of In-Naħla u Sħabha. Let’s celebrate In-Naħla Katerina and her friends, and the wonderful natural world that belongs to us all.

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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). The production of the accompanying video has been made possible through the generous support of the HSBC Malta Foundation. This project/ publication reflects the views only of the author, and the MCVS and the HSBC Malta Foundation cannot be held responsible for the content or any use which may be made of the information contained therein.