Mużika Mużika’s bright future had an indirect humble beginning back in 1960. It all started when a Christian youth group banned together to organise a national festival for the enjoyment of the Maltese public. This relatively small festival created a tremendous ripple effect, motivating organisations to host festivals specifically targeted to re-vitalise Maltese music. The Maltese festival ‘Għanja tal-Poplu’ (People’s Ode Song Contest) did just that, and it is still currently running from its commencement in 1973 with the help of the Youth Travel Circle (YTC). They have been hosting a yearly contest with national music giants taking home first prize, including singers Glen Vella and Eleanor Cassar back in 2000, and Corazon in 2007,2009,2010, and 2016.

In 1981, The ‘Festival Internazzjonali tal-Kanzunetta Maltija’ was announced, delighting prospective competitors to submit their entry in hopes to share their music with the Maltese public. What was different about this festival was the actual aim of the outcome. While it’s main audience was the Maltese public, this particular festival, which we now know as ‘Mużika Mużika’, wanted to amalgamate the ideas of creating Maltese music and not only sharing this with the national audience, but also to expand to an international level. The top three of this festival had the opportunity to compete in international festivals, with the Maltese language, something which was implicitly frowned up due to the disappointing results in the Eurovision

Song Contest in 1971 and 1972. In some instances, this festival also incentivised international artists to collaborate and add on songs in Maltese on their album/CD.

To the astonishment of musical aficionados, following 20 years of consecutive entertainment, the televised ‘Festival Internazzjonali tal-Kanzunetta Maltija’ was abruptly called off. Multiple people even petitioned for its return, albeit it making a surprise comeback for one year in 2013, still the festival never recuperated to its prime years.