The Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee is today marking a special occasion with the release of In-Naħla u Sħabha (L-Għanja tal-Ispeċi Nazzjonali), the third and final song in its popular educational trilogy.
The release coincides with the first anniversary of the Maltese Honey Bee’s official recognition as Malta’s national insect, a milestone achievement spearheaded by the foundation.
Written and composed by Michael Piscopo, with educational guidance from Suzanne Piscopo, and performed by Claire Marie Busuttil, the song is specifically aimed at children aged five to eight, offering an engaging and age-appropriate resource for early primary education.
The release forms part of the initiative ‘Discovering the Maltese Honey Bee: Education Through Songs and Rhymes’, with the song 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 accompanying video, produced by Michael Piscopo, was funded by the HSBC Malta Foundation. This project brings Malta’s six national species to life in a fun, educational and visually engaging way.
Honouring Malta’s national species
While previous songs in the series introduced the Maltese honey bee and celebrated pollinators, In-Naħla u Sħabha expands the story to include all six of Malta’s national species:
• Maltese honey bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri) − In-naħla Maltija
• Mediterranean killifish (Aphanius fasciatus) – Il-bużaqq
• Blue rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius) – Il-merill
• Maltese rock-centaury (Cheirolophus crassifolius) – Widnet il-baħar
• Maltese freshwater crab (Potamon fluviatile lanfrancoi) – Il-qabru
• Sandarac gum tree (Tetraclinis articulata) – Is-siġra tal-għargħar
Through Katerina the bee’s playful narration, children are guided through Malta’s natural landscapes, discovering where these species live, what they do and why they are vital to the islands’ biodiversity.
A musical celebration of nature and learning
The song blends imaginative lyrics with scientific accuracy, teaching children about environmental care, respect for wildlife, and the importance of protecting local habitats.
Lines such as “Nieħdu ħsieb l-ambjent, fejn immorru ma nħammġux (Let us care for the environment; wherever we go, let us not litter) encourage children to take personal responsibility for nature.
At the same time, the song continues the series’ focus on language learning, introducing new Maltese vocabulary while improving memory, pronunciation, and comprehension through music.
Bringing Malta’s wildlife to life
Accompanying the song is a vibrant slideshow video, featuring colourful illustrations of each species in its natural habitat − from the fluttering bee over Widnet il-Baħar to the singing Merill on rocky cliffs.
The visuals allow children to connect directly with the lyrical content, enhancing both engagement and understanding.
The project is coordinated by the foundation’s founders, Dylan Farrugia and Abner Joe Buttigieg. This article was provided by the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee.
For more education-related articles, click here. For more Child stories, follow this link.