Where's your crib?

In Equatorial Guinea, next to the mouth of the Ekuku River, a few kilometers from Bat. I was born at midnight, and the sea was very upset, as my mother told me. “This child will be a musician,” the old ones said... And that, all my life, I've dedicated it to music. A few weeks later, I was taken to Malaboña, where my father worked for the administration.

So what kind of ethnicity are you?

I'm Kombe, but where I was born most people are fang. Our language is ndowe and when I speak with my little brother in Barcelona I do so in our language. I have uncles and aunts, and with them I speak our language as well. They make comvers and Catalan. My children, on the other hand, have never done so, just single words, because here I've been the only speaker, but I'd like you to talk to the family.

You came for the first time in the time of the colonial...

Yes, the first time I came here was in 1965, some students brought us to know the metropolis for getting good grades. Then I came back in the '70s and stayed here, 20 years old. I entered as a student at the Bilbao Conservatory, where Torre Lledó and Mari Cruz Soriano were... Then I went to Madrid, to the upper conservatory, but I didn't like the atmosphere. I was in the ABAO choir, but I left it because I was bored and I thought I had to make another music to live.

So very few black people in Bilbao, there were Joneses ...

Those were the first [Miguel Jones, a footballer born in Equatorial Guinea], Benjamin was also a Guinean, who worked in the strangeness of the Civil Government, and Ndongo, who worked in finance, were all friends of his dead brother. He, Gabino, was the first to work in Bilbao as the keeper of the Magi during Christmas when El Corte Inglés opened. Then I took the relief, most of those who today are 40 or 45 years old have been children in their lap.

Did you work then?

In the mornings I would go to the port of San Ignacio to download boats. There I saw the bananas coming from Guinea… But the patterns always: He would say “Moreno, to the coal” and send me to download bags of coal because he was black. I have a lot of memories of the past, but I prefer to live today's. I've done everything, but I've never complained.

You became a street singer.

I've been singing on the street for 34 years. I started with a guitar, later with a cassette, and all I'm wearing today is digital. I started in English, then in Basque…

They say that the street singer is not very good here.

No, some of those who know me, when they see me on the street, they are ashamed and they change their sidewalks ... I realize, but I always tell my kids not to judge people. Albert Hammond, Caruso, Sabina… They have all been street singers. In addition, in France and the United States there are street artists’ unions, but in Bilbao, where are the artists who finish the race? Why don't they work on the street? They lack an art rebellion to put on the street.

Have you ever felt racism?

Yes, but you have to keep your head cool, listen, analyze the situation, you are a person who thinks it is more than you… I try not to transmit these experiences to my children. Look, we were a province of Spain, but when did you hear something positive about a footballer, an engineer, a doctor from Equatorial Guinea? Nothing! If they went, but… To me, I have often been asking for papers, I have never had problems with the bureaucracy.

Today Williams is at Athletic, unlike Jones.

Jones played in the Indautxu, but Athletic did not sign for the Bilbao Basket, as he was not Biscayan. He also played in the ATLÉTICO de Madrid and in the selection. He was brought in when he was two weeks old, but then there were other policies at Athletic. That would not happen today. Some friends would tell me. “When Williams plays, we will break the Karnets,” and now, happy, “how Williams plays!” they say. I do not encourage it because Williams is black, but because a taboo has been broken.

You were in San Mamés at the Céesku dago initiative.

Yes, then some got fools, because I participated in it. I said, “Look, Iribar has been a great friend of my older brother, and it’s also a source of pride for me to have called there.” Once, we were given several awards to pioneer immigrants in the Euskalduna and some were angry because in the same photo some of the PP appeared. I know people of all kinds, and I had Jon Idigoras, one of the first Basque friends. Every year, when I worked as the mail of the wise men, he always came to me and greeted me.