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Nabarralde | About Nabarra
Popular
Support to
Basque Language and Culture
"Popular
movements in Euskal Herria have been always on the alert and ready to
work in favor of the Basque language and culture in those crucial moments
in history," writes Jokin Apalategi. Many believe that this popular
disposition has helped the language to stay alive right through our
days.
When the Basque bourgeoisie of Gipuzkoa, in the 18th century, created
the Bergara university and research center and abandoned the use of
the Basque language, a person of humble origins decided to research
Basque music and dance . His name was Juan Ignacio Iztueta de Zaldibia
(1767-1845), a pioneer in the research of Basque folklore who wrote
several books about Basque music and dance.
The flute found in Isturitze, and another musical instrument found in
Atxetako, both dating 20,000 years B.C., show that music was an an important
means of expression for the Basques.
There isn't much information about Basque music and dance prior to Christianism.
Some historians believe that with the arrival of Christianism into Nabarra,
Basques began to accept the introduction of foreign customs. Music created
under the patronage of the Church was introduced little by little. Court
and troubadour music was introduced by the Nabarrase kings. Juan Ignacio
Iztueta was the first individual to investigate the development of Basque
popular music and dance since Christianism.
Among the books written by Iztueta are,
"Gipuzkoako
dantza gogoangarrienen kondaira edo historia beren soinu zahar eta hitz
neurtu edo bertsoekin. Baita berak ongi dantzatzeko irakasle edo instruzioak
ere"
(Published in Donostia in 1824)
"Euskaldun
antzina antzinako ta ere lehendabiziko etorkien dantza on iritzi pozkarri
gaitzile gabekoen soinu gogoangarriak beren hitz neurtu edo bertsoekin."
(Published in Donostia in 1826)
Iztueta's
work was not limited to the research of music and dance. He also wrote
about the Basques:
"Karta
egiten diona D. Juan Ignacio Iztuetak apez D. Juan Jose Mogei. Aita
beakurtsu fraile Santa Teresakoak Plauto euskaldunaren izenarekin izendatu
duen obratxoaren gainean. Zera argitaratu duen Mogel berak."
(Published in Donostia in 1829)
"Gipuzkoako
probintziaren kondaira edo historia zenetan jarraitzen diraden argiro
beraren hasieratik orainarte dagozkion berri gogangarriak egin eta
zuzendu zerbena D... Gipuzkoako dantza antzinakoen kondairaren egilea
eta bertako soinu zaharrak bildu eta argitaratu zituenak"
(Published in Donostia in 1842 and 1845)
A German linguist, Guillaume de Humbolt (1767-1835), wrote several books
about the Basque language and the Basque territories.
Humbolt's work encouraged other European intellectuals to do research
on the Basque language and culture: Francisque Michel wrote "The Basque
Country" in 1855; Wentworth Webster published 'Basque legends" in 1877;
Cerquand published "Legends and stories of the Basque Country" in 1872
and 1882; Julien Vinson wrote "The folklore of the Basque Country";
and Charles Bordes wrote "Musique populaire of the Basques." And Louis
Lucien Bonaparte wrote about the Basque language.
Lucien Bonaparte began his research of Basque in 1855 when he arrived
for the first time in Baiona. He visited all the Basque territories.
He returned to Nabarra in 1857 and again, in 1866, to study the Aezkoa
and Errekoriar dialects. He came back in 1867, and in 1869. In 1869,
he published the "Carte linguistique," a study about the Basque verb.
The work of Bonaparte stimulated the work of a cultural group for the
Basque language and culture. This group included members from all the
Basque territories--Jean Pierre Duvoisin (Ainhoa), Fray Jose Antonio
Uriarte de Harrigorriaga (Bizkaia), Claudio Otaegi de Zegama (Gipuzkoa),
Emmanuel Inchauspe de Zunharreta (Zuberoa), M. Salaberri de Ibarrola
(Behe-Nafarroa), Bruno Etxenike Garmendia de Urdax (Nafarroa), the Abbe
Casenave (Behe-Nafarroa), Jose Antonio Azpiazu de Segura (Gipuzkoa),
P. Juan Eloy Udabe de Tolosa (Gipuzkoa), Mariano Mendigatxa de Bidangotze
(residual Nafarroa), Prudenzio Hualde de Bidangotze (residual Nafarroa),
Pedro Jose Samper de Jaurrieta (Nafarroa), the Abbe Ibarnagarai de Garralda
(residual Nafarroa), Pedro Jose Minondo de Garralde (residual Nafarroa),
Martin Elizondo de Aribe (Nafarroa), and Artxu de Altzürükü;
(Zuberoa).
The Basque language was subjected to discrimination during the 18th
and 19th centuries. It was not taught at
schools and universities and its use excluded from the
local governments.
Abbadie, a Zuberotar, was born in Dublin in 1810. He was a scientist
and an intellectual. Many believe that without the influence of Abbadie,
the hostility against the Basque language would have been very difficult
to overcome. He organized many activities in favor of the Basque language
and culture, including literary contests, recitals, sports, dance, and
bertsolari performances.
Basque literary contests made their debut in 1853 under the direction
of Abbadie. The first contests took place in Sara, Donapaleu, Donibane
Lohitzune, Maule, Donostia, Elizondo, Iruina, Bilbo, Oihartzun and Hondarribia.
JAnother
contributor to Basque culture, ose Maria Iparragirre was born in Urretxu
in 1820. He fought in the first Carlist war and left for France in exile
afterwards. Iparragirre toured several countries playing the guitar
and singing Basque folk songs.
In France, Iparragirre was expelled by Napoleon III for singing the
Marseillaise at a political gathering in Marseille. He travelled to
Switzerland, Germany, and England. In 1853 he was pardoned and allowed
to return to Nabarra.
After he returned, and while visiting Madrid, Jose Maria Iparragirre
wrote the `Gernikako Arbola' (Gernika tree) song. He wanted to raise
consciousness among Basques about the political situation in the Spanish
state which threatened to abolish the Basque `fueros' or special laws.
He travelled throughout the Basque territories singing the Gernikako
Arbola and coveying its message.
The song generated such enthusiasm among Basques, that Iparragirre was
forced to go in exile again. He sought refuge in Argentina. In 1876,
after the Basque fueros were abolished, a community group demanded Iparragirre's
return. He was allowed to return. Iparragirre died in 1881.
The need to reason and organize the intuition of the poet and folk singer
became of great importance among those who did not accept the new society
imposed by the laws of 1876. Thus, the need for a cultural reference.
Cultural groups began to emerge throughout the Basque territories, with
Nabarra leading a cultural movement.
The `Association of Euskara in Nabarra' was created in 1877. Its first
contribution was the creation of the magazine `Euskara' in 1878. Among
the founders of the association were Juan Iturralde y Suit, Esteban
Obandos, Estanislao Aranzadi, Herminio Oloriz, Nicasio Landa, Daniel
Irujo, and Arturo Campion. The movement that started in Nabarra influenced
other groups in Nabarra's truncated territory of Gipuzkoa. Jose Manterola
(1849-1884) joined the Nabarrase movement. He published a collection
of Basque songs, and founded the magazine `Euskal-Erria.'
Several Basque language magazines were published in Araba, where this
cultural movement was led by Fermin Herran, Mateo Benigno de Moraza,
Pedro Egaña, Ramon Ortiz de Zarate, Ricardo Becerro de Bengoa,
Federico de Baraibar, Enrique de Velasco, and Sotero de Mentedi.
The province of Bizkaia too had its own cultural movement. The association
`Euskal-Erria' directed by Mario Adan de Yarza, and the association
'Union Basco-Nabarra,' directed by Eladio de Lezama, were created in
Bilbo in 1881.
Two magazines were published in Nabarra's northern territories in 1886:
the leftist `Reveil Basque,' and `Eskualduna.' The magazine `Eskualduna'
backed
Petain and was forced to close in 1944. Pierre Lafitte published the
magazine Herria in 1944.
Sources: Jokin Apaletegi, Euskadi en guerre (Ekin, 1987);
Luis Nuñez Astrain, Opresión y defensa del euskera,
(Txertoa, 1977); Manex Goyhenetche, L'opression culturelle française
en Pays Basque Nord (Elkar, 1974); Marianne Heiberg, The Making
of the Basque Nation (Cambridge University Press, 1989).
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