On January 6, Inizjamed will launch a book of essays to mark 25 years since its inception, a significant milestone for one of Malta’s leading literary organisations. This publication celebrates a quarter of a century of literary activity, including intercultural dialogue, experimentation and a commitment to new writing and translation.
Gabriel Schembri will lead the launch, which will feature a discussion between Keith Borg, editor of the book and member of Inizjamed’s core team, Leanne Ellul, artistic director of Inizjamed and the Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival, and Adrian Grima, founder of Inizjamed and the Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival.
The event, being held at Spazju Kreattiv at 7.30pm, will also include readings by Jean Paul Borg, coordinator of Inizjamed and the Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival, as well as readings by Inizjamed members Kurt Borg and Jake Buttigieg, who will present excerpts from essays by Nadia Mifsud and Clare Azzopardi. Together, these contributions reflect the multiplicity of voices and forms that have shaped Inizjamed over the past 25 years.
Edited by Borg, the 124-page book in Maltese entitled U Niftakar − Ħamsa u Għoxrin Sena ta’ Inizjamed, brings together a collection of essays reflecting on Inizjamed’s history, its cultural impact and the broader literary context in Malta. Essay contributions are by Clare Azzopardi, Kit Azzopardi, Elena Cardona, Claudia Gauci, Adrian Grima, Leanne Ellul, Jean Paul Borg, Nadia Mifsud, Justine Somerville, Karsten Xuereb and Anna Zammit.
The publication also includes short comments by Effie Azzopardi, Alexandra Büchler, Katel Delia, Maria Grech Ganado, Virginia Monteforte, Matthew Schembri, Jake Buttigieg and Klara Vassallo. The book’s design and cover were created by Naomi Gatt. The publication is supported by the National Book Council’s Malta Book Fund 2024.
Inizjamed is a Malta-based literary organisation dedicated to promoting contemporary literature and critical thought through writing, discussion, and performance. Over the years, it has played a central role in shaping Malta’s literary landscape by supporting emerging and established writers, encouraging experimentation across genres, and creating spaces where literature engages directly with social, cultural and political realities.
Inizjamed’s flagship event is the Malta Mediterranean Literature Festival, the only annual literary festival on the island that brings together local and international writers and artists, further strengthening literary exchange across the Mediterranean region.
Inizjamed believes the publication comes at a crucial moment for Maltese literature, when the literary essay is increasingly being written in Maltese and appreciated as an art form, and at a time when the organisation continues to grow and reach new heights.
The book will be available for purchase following the launch, or by contacting Inizjamed, from selected bookshops in Malta and Gozo, and during Inizjamed’s events.
For more information, visit Inizjamed’s pages on Facebook and Instagram.
