The town of Lazkao will remember tomorrow, April 18, the centenary of the birth of the bertsolari Jose Migel Iztueta Lazkao Txiki with a special event at Lazkao Txiki Zelaia. The Lazkao Txiki Gogoan initiative, organized annually since 2001, takes on particular significance this year as it marks 100 years since the birth of the renowned bertsolari.
“"Lazkao Txiki was a cultured man in Basque culture. He liked children and had Euskera in his heart. Taking these axes, we have organized the annual activities. And we intend to continue."
Joxepa Madariaga, coordinator of the Gerriko association, emphasized the importance of remembering Lazkao Txiki, highlighting the bertsolari's commitment to Basque culture and the Basque language. The Gerriko association, following its philosophy of collaboration, has organized the event together with other cultural entities and the Lazkao town council. From the outset, the word 'tribute' has been avoided, aiming primarily to transmit the figure of the bertsolari to children, who will have a special role in the act.
At the event, which will begin tomorrow at 12:30 PM, various cultural entities from Goierri and Lazkao will participate, including the Lazkao Txiki music school, the Oin Arin dance group, the Bakuntza groups, and the Goierriko Bertso-Eskolak. In addition, five bertsolaris from Goierri who knew Lazkao Txiki or sang with him, such as Eusebio Igartzabal, Iñaki Murua, Milan Telleria, Iñaki Apalategi, and Iban Urdangarin, will offer a session of coplas. The Gipuzkoa bertso schools' day will also be held in Lazkao, and students from these schools will sing two animated bertsos by the bertsolari.
After the event, at 2:00 PM, a bertso lunch will be held at the Gerriko association, with about 50 attendees. In the post-lunch session, June Aiestaran, Aitor Sarriegi, and Nerea Elustondo will improvise bertsos, with Aizpea Garmendia acting as the theme setter.
