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Creative and Cultural Journey of Tolosa Siblings

Irene, Director of the Etxepare Institute, and Jokin, a musician, unite in promoting Basque culture.

Generic image: two siblings, a woman and a man, conversing in a living room in Euskadi.
IA

Generic image: two siblings, a woman and a man, conversing in a living room in Euskadi.

Irene and Jokin, creative siblings from Tolosa, converge in the promotion and expression of Basque culture from their respective artistic and professional journeys.

Siblings Irene (1970) and Jokin (1974), born in Tolosa, base their work on creativity and the Basque language. Irene, director of the Etxepare Basque Institute since 2018, has been involved in communication and cultural dissemination. Jokin, besides being a psychologist and counselor at the Gureak company, is a musician whose work creates feelings and melodies.
In their childhood memories, they recall calm holiday moments and also more boisterous ones. Irene was known for her verbal fluency, while Jokin, with greater physical strength, often found himself in unbalanced situations. Despite a three-year real age difference, there is a four-year gap in their birth dates, which also made their relationship special.
Music has always held a significant place in their family environment. Jokin, an amateur musician, started playing the guitar from a young age, and music has helped him express his inner feelings. The musical and sensitive atmosphere at home, along with a passion for culture, has been developed by each of them in their own way, particularly by Jokin and Irene.
Irene, as director of the Etxepare Basque Institute, promotes Basque culture worldwide. Regarding the status of Basque abroad, she notes that there is interest, and that the Etxepare Institute manages networks to promote Basque and Basque culture. She emphasizes that Basque culture is comparable in quality to that of other nations and should be showcased globally without hesitation.
Jokin, the musician, states that Basque music is more open than it was years ago, with young people drawing from globalized styles and a significant movement. However, he acknowledges the difficulty of making a living from music, given the small audience scope. In his career, he has performed with the bands Ze habil, barrabil! and Uncle Mussels.
Despite having different professions, they offer each other advice. Irene says Jokin is a good counselor, especially on personal matters, while Jokin admits to being more reserved but appreciates having his sister nearby and knowing she understands him.
What they admire most about each other is Jokin's patience and calmness offered to others, according to Irene, and Jokin highlights that Irene is a social animal and very hardworking.
Every year, they share a dinner at the Casino society during the Kalderero day, along with their sister Marta. It's a special night with costumes and a carnival atmosphere, filled with humor and music. The three of them have the ability to share inside jokes with just a look, a legacy of years. They have an excellent time together.

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