AUSONIO U WENZU BUGEJA – IS-SONIJIET
Ausonio Bugeja, affectionately known as Is-Sonu, was one of Birgu’s most colourful and memorable traditional folk figures. Although born in Żurrieq, he spent most of his life in Birgu, where he became a familiar presence in the town’s streets and festivities.
Throughout Malta, Is-Sonu was well known as a nougat vendor who travelled from feast to feast, setting up his stall at village celebrations across the islands. Yet he was much more than a street vendor. He was one of the last exponents of the traditional Maltese bagpipe, the żaqq, helping to preserve a musical tradition that was already rapidly disappearing during the mid-twentieth century.
In 1955, Is-Sonu took part in the prestigious Imnarja Folk Song Competition at Buskett. Accompanied on the drum by his son, Wenzu Bugeja, he delighted audiences with his spirited performance on the żaqq. His talent and charismatic style earned him invitations to perform on other occasions, including appearances on television.
Residents of Birgu also remembered Is-Sonu walking through the town’s streets during Christmastime, playing his bagpipe and bringing traditional music directly to the community. His performances were not only musical but highly visual; he was known to dance while playing, at times dropping to one knee and rising again without interrupting the tune.
Together with his son Wenzu, who played the drum, Is-Sonu formed part of a cherished father-and-son musical tradition remembered by generations of Birgu residents. Their music became closely associated with local customs, feast-day celebrations, and the living folklore of the city. Today, Is-Sonu is remembered as one of the last traditional żaqq players of Malta and as an important bearer of Birgu’s cultural heritage.
