Mgħawġin - Ġurnal Għawdxi

 

Mgħawġin

Ġurnal Għawdxi - L-Ewwel Ħarġa

Corrine Zahra and Ħaley Xuereb

Mgħawġin is a new literary journal for Gozitan writers. Its founders and editors are two young authors who themselves hail from Gozo: Corrine Zahra, a graduate in creative writing from the University of Chicago, and Ħaley Xuereb, a law student at the University of Malta, as well as a published poet active in the literary and cultural scene. Frustrated by the limited opportunities available to emerging writers from their island of origin, Zahra and Xuereb came up with the idea for this literary zine and issued a call for submissions from Gozitans (whether living in Gozo or elsewhere in the wide, wide world) and from expatriates who have made Gozo their home.

Mgħawġin is a brilliant title. It literally means “bent”, but also “forged” or “shaped” by the Gozitan experience. It is, clearly, a pun on Għawdxin (“Gozitan”), and may also refer to speaking in dialect (“titkellem bl-imgħawweġ”), departing from the “standard” Maltese pronunciation. Indeed, speaking in dialect is what most Gozitans do, particularly among themselves but, increasingly, also in formal fora (tip of the hat to Her Excellency, the President of Malta).

And so, the first issue of Mgħawġin is out. True to its calling, it features several emerging voices from Gozo, writing in Maltese, in dialect (which, as one might expect, appears mainly in dialogue), and in English. To be clear, it’s not as if Gozo lacks established writers who have left their mark on Maltese literature. After all, among the fathers of the language one could mention such Gozitan figures as Ninu Cremona and Ġużé Aquilina, and there are several living Gozitan authors—of different generations—who have been extensively published and received critical acclaim (not least Pierre Mejlak, winner of the EU Prize for Literature). Mgħawġin’s first issue itself features two veterans: Joseph W. Psaila, who, acting as a sort of elder mentor or godfather, contributes a playful, humorous introductory poem dedicated lill-Poeti Żgħażagħ tal-Mgħawġin; and Charles Bezzina, Gozo’s own “bard of the sea,” who once again finds inspiration in the heaving waves and blue expanse. But most of the featured authors are new voices: either young writers making their way into the literary world, or older individuals who, for various reasons (unrelated to the quality of their writing), have never had the opportunity to publish their work and have now found a welcoming outlet for their creativity.

Journals such as Mgħawġin are at their best when they not only promote local talent, but also reflect the idiosyncrasies of the region that inspires them. And while not all the featured works are specifically “Gozitan” (apart from their authors), some of the most striking are those that evoke the lived experience of being Għawdxi: the sense of place—tinged with nostalgia—that serves as a setting (e.g., Marsalforn in “Anġlu Żgħojr”); the challenges of student life in Malta (“Msidesk”, by the anonymous—or is she?—“EG”); or the conflicted (love/hate?) feelings of those who leave Gozo yet feel irresistibly drawn back (“Gżira Mifruda”, by Elena Attard). There are also neo-Romantic, patriotic pieces which, in the tradition of Ġorġ Pisani, sing the praises of the island of Calypso and lament the loss of past traditions—and there should be room for that too, why not?

Mgħawġin is a great project, and this first issue augurs well for the future. It offers a diverse mix of genres, styles, and approaches; and although, as one might expect, the literary quality of the individual works varies, it is generally high, making for a satisfying and very readable whole. I would encourage the wider reading public—not just Gozitans—to try it out. Ultimately, such endeavours are sustainable if they do not look inward, but project the regional experience to an external audience. Mgħawġin certainly deserves that.

launched 8 July, 2025.

Available directly from the editors