The Marble Plaque depicting the portrait
of
Dun Karm and the National Anthem,
at the Cathedral Museum, Mdina.
L-INNU MALTI
Lil din l-art ħelwa, l-Omm li tatna isimha,
ħares, Mulej, kif dejjem Int ħarist:
Ftakar li lilha bl-oħla dawl libbist.
Agħti, kbir Alla, id-dehen lil min jaħkimha,
Rodd il-ħniena lis-sid, saħħa 'l-ħaddiem:
Seddaq il-għaqda fil-Maltin u s-sliem.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In 1922-23, Dr A.V. Laferla, Director of Primary Schools, obtained possession of
a piece of music composed by Dr Robert Samut. He handed it to Dun Karm Psaila, a
well-known priest and poet, to write the lyrics for it as a school hymn. As Dun
Karm began writing, he suddenly conceived the idea of writing a hymn in the form
of a prayer to the Almighty.
Dun Karm, who was later to become Malta's National Poet, wanted to bridge the
gap existing between the political parties and to unite all with the strong ties
of religion and patriotism. L-Innu Malti was first played on the 3rd
February 1923. In 1945 it was declared to be the official Anthem of Malta.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE MALTESE NATIONAL ANTHEM:
