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Art, Basque Fact of the Week, Folklore

Basque Fact of the Week: Maialen Lujanbio, Bertsolari Champion

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Bertsolaritza is the art of Basque improvisational poetry. Every four years, the best bertsolaris come together to crown a champion. (It has been five years since the last competition because of, you know, COVID.) The latest edition of the championship, called the Bertsolari Txapelketa Nagusia, just wrapped up, with the final taking place on December […]

Basque Fact of the Week, Euskara, Folklore

Basque Fact of the Week: Basque Improvisational Poetry

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Bertsolaritza, or Basque Improvisational Poetry, is the art of composing, on the spot and impromptu, sung couplets about a given topic. A specific meter and rhyme must be followed. Competitions are held for the best bertsolaris, or singers of of these poems, but bertsolaris are also famous for singing impromptu at any gathering.