Biography
Frans Baldacchino, known as Il-Budaj, was a folk singer from Malta, one of the most famous singers of traditional music in his country.
He was born in Zejtun on May 16, 1943 and from an early age, he discovered his love for poetry. He immigrated to Australia during the 1960s, where he formed a folk singing group along with other Maltese immigrants. He returned to his country in the 1970s and soon gained fame as a singer of traditional music songs, succeeding in spreading the Ghana music to the general public. In 1995, he published a book of poems. He was also a painter and sculptor. Il Budaj regularly collaborated with the popular folk band Etnika on a number of events and recordings. In 1992, he also had success in France with a CD called Ballades Malte et Joutes Chantees.
He died on June 22, 2006.