Oliver Friggieri

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Oliver Friggieri
Born(1947-03-27)March 27, 1947
Floriana, Crown Colony of Malta
Died21 November 2020(2020-11-21) (aged 73)
Malta
Alma materUniversity of Malta
Catholic University of Milan
Occupation(s)Literature, Poetry, Philosophy

Oliver Friggieri (27 March 1947 – 21 November 2020) was a Maltese poet, novelist, literary critic, and philosopher. He led the establishment of literary history and criticism in Maltese while teaching at the University of Malta, studying the works of Dun Karm, Rużar Briffa, and others. A prolific writer himself, Friggieri explored new genres to advocate the Maltese language, writing the libretti for the first oratorio and the first cantata in Maltese. His work aimed to promote the Maltese cultural identity, while not shying from criticism: one of his most famous novels, Fil-Parlament Ma Jikbrux Fjuri (No Flowers Grow in Parliament, 1986), attacked the tribalistic divisions of society caused by politics. From philosophy, he was mostly interested in epistemology and existentialism.[1]: Vol. 1, p. 184 [2][3]

Early life and education[edit]

Friggieri was born in Floriana in 1947.[4] He completed his secondary education at the Archbishop's Minor Seminary,[5] and was in the Major Seminary until 1967.[6]

He entered the University of Malta in 1964,[6] earning a Bachelor of Arts in Maltese, Italian and Philosophy (1968).[4] He was the first recipient of a Masters degree in Maltese literature from the University of Malta (1975).[7] In 1978, he received a Doctorate in Maltese literature and Literary Criticism from the Catholic University of Milan, Italy.[4]

Career[edit]

After graduating in 1968, Friggeri taught Maltese and Philosophy in secondary schools. In 1976, he moved to the University of Malta; he was promoted from Assistant Lecturer to Lecturer in 1978, and from Lecturer to associate professor in 1988. That same year, he was chosen to be the Chair of the Department of Maltese language, a position which he held until 2002. He was made a professor in 1990.[8]

Friggieri was an advocate of Maltese language and literature in newly independent Malta.[8] He co-founded Malta's Literary Revival Movement (Moviment Qawmien Letterarju) in 1967;[6] he was part of the editorial board (1969–73) of Il-Polz, the movement's periodical,[7] later becoming the editor (1974-1975).[9] He also co-founded the popular children's literary and cultural magazine Is-Sagħtar (1971).[6] In 1971, Friggieri and Paul Mizzi established a publishing house, Klabb Kotba Maltin (Maltese Book Club), which facilitated the publishing of books in Maltese.[7] He became the editor of the Journal of Maltese Studies in 1980.[7] He was also a member of the Association Internationale des Critiques Litteraires of Paris, France.[6]

Friggieri published in various genres. As his primary focus was Maltese literature, most of his publications were not of a directly philosophical nature; they included dictionaries of literature, oratorios, cantatas, literary criticism, literary biographies, and anthologies of his own poetry. He wrote the libretti for the first Maltese-language oratorio (Pawlu ta’ Malta, 1989), and cantata (L-Għanja ta’ Malta, 1989);[7] both works were scored by Charles Camilleri.[10] Friggieri also wrote literary analyses of the works of Mikiel Anton Vassalli[11] and Peter Caxaro.[12] His works have been translated into 16 languages, including English, French, German, Italian and Greek.[13]

Friggieri supported the Maltese-language press, publishing articles in L-Orizzont and In-Nazzjon.[6] Besides contributing to these and other local periodicals, Friggieri wrote novels and short stories. Many of these works are of special interest to philosophy, featuring pathos and philosophical reflections.[14] His fiction and poetry were influenced by existentialism.[4][15] His 1986 novel Fil-Parlament Ma Jikbrux Fjuri was highly controversial when published due to its unvarnished portrayal of political tribalism in Malta. He also penned a tribute to Karin Grech and Raymond Caruana, casualties of Maltese political violence in the 1980s.[4]

Friggieri was part of the committee that translated EU legal texts into Maltese.[16] In 2008, Friggieri published an autobiography, Fjuri li ma Jinxfux (Flowers Which Never Wither), spanning the years 1955–1990.[17] In addition to his own writings, he translated works from English, Italian, and Latin into Maltese.[14]

Friggieri received the Ġieħ l-Akkademja tal-Malti gold medal in 2016 and won Malta's National Book Prize several times. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat appointed him as Chair of the Foundation for National Festivities in 2013.[18][4]

In popular culture[edit]

A bus shelter in Malta with text from Friggieri's poem "Jekk"

Verses from Friggieri's poem "Jekk" ("If") can be found printed on some bus shelters around Malta. This led to the poem being known as "the bus stop poem" by the general public.[19][20]

In 2018, the Maltese band The Travellers released the song "Ilkoll Flimkien". The lyrics of this song contain excerpts of the poem "Jekk".[21]

Personal life[edit]

Oliver Friggieri's coffin was at the Floriana Parish Church, before the state funeral mass in Mdina

Friggieri and his wife Eileen had one daughter and two grandchildren.[22] He died on 21 November 2020.[8] A funeral organised by the state was held for him[13] on 25 November, which was declared a national day of mourning.[23]

In December 2020, PN Floriana Minority Leader James Aaron Ellul announced that part of Triq l-Argotti will be named after the late Maltese poet, writer and lecturer Oliver Friggieri. The proposal was put forward by Ellul within the Local Council, in November 2020.[24][25][26][27]

A monument in his honour will be erected in his hometown of Floriana. The design of the monument is by the Maltese artist John Grima.[28]

Honours[edit]

Partial bibliography[edit]

Poetry

  • 1967 – Dħaħen fl-imħuħ [6]
  • 2002 – Sotto l'ombra degli occhi (anthology)[32]

Short stories

  • 1979 – Stejjer Għal Qabel Jidlam (Stories Before Nightfall)[6][33]
  • 1991 – Fil-Gżira Taparsi Jikbru l-Fjuri (On The Island Where Flowers Pretend To Grow)[4][33]

Novels

  • 1977 – Il-Gidba (The Lie)[1]: 204 
  • 1980 – L-Istramb (The Odd Fellow)[1]: 263–264 
  • 1986 – Fil-Parlament ma Jikbrux Fjuri (No Flowers Grow in Parliament)[1]: Vol. II, p. 80 
  • 1998 – Ġiżimin li Qatt ma Jiftaħ (The Jasmine Which Never Blossoms)[4]
  • 2000 – It-Tfal Jiġu bil-Vapuri (Children Come in Ships)[4]
  • 2006 – La Jibbnazza Niġi Lura (I Will Return After the Tempest)[34]
  • 2008 – Fjuri li ma Jinxfux (Flowers Which Never Wither)[17]
  • 2010 – Dik id-Dgħajsa f’Nofs il-Port (That Boat in Mid-Harbour)[34]
  • 2013 – Children Come by Ship[35] (English translation of the 2000 novel)[36]
  • 2015 – Let Fair Weather Bring Me Home[37]

Dictionary

  • Dizzjunarju ta' Termini Letterarji (Dictionary of Literary Terms), 1986[38] and 1996[39]

Nonfiction and criticism

  • Kittieba ta' Żmienna, 1970[6]
  • Ir-Ruħ fil-Kelma, 1973[6]
  • Rużar Briffa – L-Aħħar Poeżiji u Taħdita Letterarja, 1973[40]
  • Introduction to Ġ. A. Vassallo's Il-Ġifen Tork, 1975[6]
  • Fl-Għarbiel, 1976[6]
  • Il-Kultura Taljana f'Dun Karm, 1976[6]
  • Mekkaniżmi Metaforiċi f'Dun Karm, 1978[6]
  • Saġġi Kritiċi, 1979[6]
  • Storja tal-Letteratura Maltija, I, 1979[6]
  • Dun Karm – il-Bniedem fil-Poeta, 1980[41]
  • Dun Karm – Il-Poeżiji Miġbura, 1980[38]
  • L'esperienza leopardiana di un poeta Maltese: Karmenu Vassallo, 1983[42]
  • Rużar Briffa – Il-Poeżiji Miġbura, 1983[43]
  • Ġwann Mamo – Il-Kittieb tar-Riforma Soċjali, 1984[36]
  • Il-Ħajja ta' Rużar Briffa, 1984[43]
  • L-Idea tal-Letteratura, 1986[44]
  • Il-Jien u Lil hinn Minnu, 1988[40]
  • Dun Karm, 1989 [40]
  • Saggi sulla letteratura Maltese, 1989 [36]
  • Il-Kuxjenza Nazzjonali Maltija, 1995[45]
  • L-Istudji Kritiċi Miġbura, 1995[46]
  • L-Istorja tal-Poeżija Maltija, 2001[47]
  • Dun Karm – Le poesie italiane, 2007[48]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Mark Montebello, Il-Ktieb tal-Filosofija f’Malta (A Source Book of Philosophy in Malta), PIN Publications, Malta, 2001.
  2. ^ Mark Montebello, 20th Century Philosophy in Malta, Agius & Agius, Malta, 2009, pp. 126–128
  3. ^ Mark Montebello, Malta’s Philosophy & Philosophers, PIN Publications, Malta, 2011, pp. 152–155.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Oliver Friggieri, intellectual who articulated nation’s consciousness, passes away, Malta Today, 21 November 2020
  5. ^ Debono, Karol Paul (2020-11-24). "Tislima lill-Professur Oliver Friggieri – eks student tas-Seminarju". The Archbishop's Seminary School (in Maltese). Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Friggieri, Oliver (1983). "Self portrait : Oliver Friggieri". Civilization: An Encyclopedia on Maltese Civilization, History and Contemporary Arts. 10. Gulf Publishing Ltd.: 276–280 – via OAR@UM.
  7. ^ a b c d e tal-Malti, L.-Akkademja (2020-11-21). "L-Akkademja ssellem lill-Prof. Oliver Friggieri". L-Akkademja tal-Malti (in Maltese). Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  8. ^ a b c "Oliver Friggieri, a giant of Maltese literature, dies aged 73". Times of Malta. 21 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020.
  9. ^ "New book in recognition of Oliver Friggieri's works - TVM News". TVM English. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  10. ^ Bondin, Joseph Vella (2013-04-15). "The Development of Choral Singing in Malta: A Historical Overview". The IFCM Magazine. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  11. ^ Friggieri, Oliver (1998–1999). "POINTS OF CONTACT BETWEEN ITALIAN ROMANTICISM AND MALTESE LITERATURE: The Maltese literary background". Scripta Mediterranea. 19–20: 93–108.
  12. ^ Friggieri, Oliver, 1947- (2016). Il-Kantilena ta' Pietru Caxaro : interpretazzjoni Rinaxximentali. Msida, Malta. ISBN 978-99909-45-88-1. OCLC 970777164.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ a b "Oliver Friggieri funeral to be organised by the government - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  14. ^ a b Briffa, Charles (1997). "The Voice of a Nation's Conscience: Oliver Friggieri's Fiction in Recent Maltese Literature". World Literature Today. 71 (3): 495–504. doi:10.2307/40152810. JSTOR 40152810.
  15. ^ Risica, Giuseppe. "Oliver Friggieri". www.giuris.org. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  16. ^ Strassman, Burkhard (25 April 2005). ""Kif inti?" – "Tajjeb!"". Die Zeit (in German). Archived from the original on 22 November 2005.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ^ a b "'Fjuri Li ma jinxfux – Tifkiriet 1955-1990' - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  18. ^ "Oliver Friggieri heads new anniversary committee". Times of Malta. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  19. ^ Cassar, Mario (12 May 2007). "Poetry at bus stops". Times of Malta (Opinion article). Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  20. ^ "Tributes pour in for Prof. Oliver Friggieri, who passed away at 73". um.edu.mt. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  21. ^ "FILMAT: The Travellers b'kanzunetta ġdida; 'Ilkoll Flimkien'". Net News. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  22. ^ Benoit, Marie (7 March 2020). "Oliver Friggieri and his doodles". Malta Independent. Retrieved 2020-11-24 – via pressreader.com.
  23. ^ "National day of mourning for Oliver Friggieri on Wednesday". Times of Malta. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  24. ^ "Triq fil-Furjana se tissemma għal Prof. Oliver Friggieri". 24 February 2021.
  25. ^ "Triq fil-Floriana se tissemma għal Oliver Friggieri wara mozzjoni tal-PN". 16 December 2020.
  26. ^ "Oiver Friggieri to get street named after him". 24 February 2021.
  27. ^ "Approved! A street in Floriana will now be dedicated to Maltese poet Oliver Friggieri".
  28. ^ "Oliver Friggieri monument to be erected in Floriana". Times of Malta. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-06.
  29. ^ a b c "Oliver Friggieri". Malta Independent. 5 May 2013 – via pressreader.com.
  30. ^ "Friggieri Prof. Oliver - Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana". www.quirinale.it. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  31. ^ "l-Professur Oliver Friggieri rebbieħ tal-Midalja tad-Deheb 'Ġieħ l-Akkademja tal-Malti' 2016". L-Akkademja tal-Malti (in Maltese). 2019-11-13. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  32. ^ Friggieri, Oliver, 1947– (2002). Sotto l'ombra degli occhi : antologia poetica. Longo, Gaetano. Trieste: Franco Puzzo Editore. ISBN 88-88475-03-6. OCLC 878589585.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ a b "[LISTEN] Fil-Parlament Ma Jikbrux Fjuri by Oliver Friggieri". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  34. ^ a b "The Malta we no longer know". Times of Malta. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  35. ^ Friggieri, Oliver. (2013). Children come by ship. London: Austin Macauley Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84963-432-8. OCLC 881128684.
  36. ^ a b c "BOOKS BY OLIVER FRIGGIERI" (PDF). University of Malta. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  37. ^ Friggieri, Oliver, 1947- (2015). Let fair weather bring me home. Caruana, Rose Marie, 1958-. London. ISBN 978-1-84963-875-3. OCLC 900179292.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  38. ^ a b "L-Istorja tiegħu". L-Akkademja tal-Malti (in Maltese). 2016-08-07. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  39. ^ Friggieri, Oliver (1996). Dizzjunarju ta' termini letterarji: teorija, metrika, stilistika b'eżempji mil-letteratura Maltija (in Maltese). Publishers Enterprises Group. ISBN 978-99909-0-064-4.
  40. ^ a b c "Study-Unit Description – Il-Poeżija Romantika: Dun Karm, Rużar Briffa u Oħrajn (MAL2070)". L-Università ta' Malta. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  41. ^ "A 35-year quest". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  42. ^ "L'esperienza leopardiana di un poeta maltese: Karmenu Vassallo". BDL Books. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  43. ^ a b "Rużar Briffa". L-Akkademja tal-Malti (in Maltese). 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  44. ^ "L-Idea tal-Letteratura – Daħla għall-istudju ta' l-arti tal-kelma". BDL Books. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  45. ^ "Study-Unit Description – Daħla għall-Kultura Maltija (MAL2084)". L-Università ta' Malta. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  46. ^ Friggieri, Oliver, 1947– (1995). L-Istudji kritiċi miġbura. Msida. ISBN 99909-44-05-9. OCLC 35730608.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  47. ^ Friggieri, Oliver, 1947– (2001). L-istorja tal-poeżija Maltija. Malta. ISBN 99932-41-04-0. OCLC 868425464.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  48. ^ "First complete collection of Dun Karm poems in Italian". Times of Malta. 24 December 2007. Retrieved 2020-11-25.

External links[edit]

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