euskalkultura.eus

Araia, Araba.  Researcher, Jesus Mari Alegria, has recently gotten in touch with various Basque clubs to ask for help from the Diaspora on a research project on the emigration from the plains of Araba-Alava.  Alegria lives in Araia and is the author of a work on this Alavese town called, Araia, recuerdos e historias a contratiempo.  He is now working on a new project that will be a tribute to the workers and others who had to leave this zone and immigrate to America.

“In my research I have come across fantastic stories, like one that a 100-year-old man told me, about a neighbor who they were taking to war.  Apparently he told them, ‘wait here I’m going home to get some clothes…’ and he escaped to Argentina, where he founded a company and became rich,” Alegria told EuskalKultura.com.

The researcher, who is also president of the ONG “Musicians without Borders,” remembered that in places like Junin, Argentina, that there is a large Basque presence originated in Araba.  Alegria is waiting for the collaboration from the Diaspora to recuperate these kinds of stories of Alavese emigration.  Anyone who would like to contact him can do so via email: here.