euskalkultura.eus

Noumea, New Caledonie.  The Amicale du Pay Basque Sonc Association celebrated an animated Basque festival on Saturday July 6 that included friends who came from every corner of this idyllic archipelago in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. The festival also featured guests from the Basque Country, like a group of musicians led by Jean Louis Bergara (who attended the party under the name "Lau Eskualdunak").

As Bergara explained to EuskalKultura.com, there was great atmosphere and many people gathered in the fronton in the capital, Noumea.  There, among the palm trees, there were chistera and Basque pilota exhibitions that started the festivities off.  Following, one of the most emotional moments came when those in attendance remembered Alban Cointat, a well-known member of the local Basque community who died in 2011.  An Aurresku was danced in his honor and various songs were also sung.

[Eneko, one of the young pilotaris on the island, during the chistera exhibition (photo amicable PB)]

[Jean Louis Bergara and Pierre Jaraygohen during the tribute to Alban Cointat (photo AmicalePB)]

Nearly 700 people gathered to enjoy the giant paella, and in the afternoon, various groups and local singers paraded on stage providing the best of their repertoire.  “In the afternoon twelve musical groups performed,” explained Bergara.  “It was a memorable day!”

[Local dances from New Caledonia also had their place in the festival (photo AmicalePB)] 

-More images (600 of them!) on the Association’s Facebook Page