Oliver Friggieri

Oliver Friggieri (27 March 194721 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.

Early life and education Friggieri was born in Floriana in 1947. and was in the Major Seminary until 1967.

He entered the University of Malta in 1964, In 1978, he received a Doctorate in Maltese literature and Literary Criticism from the Catholic University of Milan, Italy. He also co-founded the popular children's literary and cultural magazine Is-Sagħtar (1971). Friggieri also wrote literary analyses of the works of Mikiel Anton Vassalli and Peter Caxaro. His works have been translated into 16 languages, including English, French, German, Italian and Greek.

Friggieri supported the Maltese-language press, publishing articles in L-Orizzont and In-Nazzjon. His fiction and poetry were influenced by existentialism. His 1986 novel Fil-Parlament Ma Jikbrux Fjuri, which was also adapted for the stage in 1987, 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.

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

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

Personal life

Friggieri and his wife Eileen had one daughter and two grandchildren. He died on 21 November 2020. A funeral organised by the state was held for him

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.

A monument in his honour was erected in his hometown of Floriana and inaugurated in December, 2023. The design of the monument is by the Maltese artist John Grima.

Honours Government Literary Award (1988, 1996, 1997) Member, National Order of Merit (1999) Ġieħ l-Akkademja tal-Malti Gold Medal (2016)

Partial bibliography Poetry 1967 – Dħaħen fl-imħuħ Short stories 1979 – Stejjer Għal Qabel Jidlam (Stories Before Nightfall) 1991 – Fil-Gżira Taparsi Jikbru l-Fjuri (On The Island Where Flowers Pretend To Grow) 2008 – Fjuri li ma Jinxfux (Flowers Which Never Wither) (English translation of the 2000 novel) Dictionary Dizzjunarju ta' Termini Letterarji (Dictionary of Literary Terms), 1986 and 1996

Nonfiction and criticism Kittieba ta' Żmienna, 1970 Introduction to Ġ. A. Vassallo's Il-Ġifen Tork, 1975 Dun Karm – Il-Poeżiji Miġbura, 1980 Rużar Briffa – Il-Poeżiji Miġbura, 1983 Ġwann Mamo – Il-Kittieb tar-Riforma Soċjali, 1984 Il-Ħajja ta' Rużar Briffa, 1984 Il-Jien u Lil hinn Minnu, 1988 L-Istudji Kritiċi Miġbura, 1995 L-Istorja tal-Poeżija Maltija, 2001 Dun Karm – Le poesie italiane, 2007 Movimenti Letterari e coscienza Romantica Maltese (1800-1921), 1979 Guido Miamo Editore