euskalkultura.eus

Medellin, Colombia.  On December 11th the Gure Mendietakoak Basque club and the Center for Basque Studies in Antioquia held an academic event with Israel Brull Kintana as their guest.  Kintana holds a law degree from the University of the Basque Country and is also a member of the National Assembly of Eusko Alkartasuina as well as a member of the political coalition, Bildu.  Brull presented his testimony about “The Political Normalization Process in the Basque Country.”

The event took place in the Memorial Torre Auditorium in the Pilot Public Library in Medellin, a building that houses different spaces of this important institution in the city.

Approximately, fifty people attended the event,  according to Gure Mendietakoak.

10 Years of CEVA and Basque book series

The Basque club, as well as the University, was very satisfied by “providing the city an academic space and debate on the current situation in the Basque Country. Both institutions are become an important academic and cultural reference in Medellin, Antioquia and Colombia in general,” they told EuskalKultura.com.

They have announced more conferences for next year along with exhibits and cultural events, especially since the Center will be celebrating the 10^th anniversary of its work on the Basque presence in Antioquia.  “We hope to publish the first of three volumes in 2014 on 500 years of Basque presence in the territory.  This first volume will be dedicated to the first appearances of Basques in this part of America from 1510-1700.”

Basque festival 2013

Without leaving Antioquia, Catalina Fernandez, president of the Gure Mendietakoak club summarizes the “Antiokiako Euskaldun Jaia” 2013 celebrated in august and organized by this Basque club.

On Friday, August 23, the celebration began with a presentation by Basque poet and writer, Kepa Murua, in the museum auditorium at the University of Antioquia, where the author shared some of his field work experiences with the audience as well as reading some of his poems in Basque and Spanish.

[Poet Kepa Murua during the poetry recital at Euskal Jaia 2013 (photoGure Mendietakoak)]

On Saturday, August 24^th there was a Basque and Colombian music recital at the Casa Pamplona Gastrobar restaurant in Caldas.  The recital was performed by Sebastian Machado (guitar) and Pablo Andres (vocals).  Basque students also participated by singing some songs in Basque.  The event was also an opportunity to enjoy some Basque food and have a god time.

[Pablo Andres and Sebastian Machado during the concert at Casa Pamplona Gastrobar (photo GueMendietakoak)]

On Sunday, August 25th the festivities concluded with a talk on Basque mythology by member Victor Chavarria.  Local dance group, “Antiokioako Dantzari Txikiak”, performed their best dances and also displayed Basque food.  “In this way, the Basque festival concluded successfully, and members of Gure Mendietakoak and the general public could appreciate a display of Basque culture, food, dances, music and mythology,” the club president said.