I did not think at that time that a championship would be organised in Iparralde. Maybe I wouldn't even think that women would sing and play in most cases. I would not believe that seven performances and hundreds of people would be gathered to listen to the Bertsos. No, the only dream was that the verse would stay here for a long time and that young people would take over. In this respect, he was not wrong.

The late Mattin did not remember the tournament, because he was not a competition man in Mattin. Mr. Treku was a man in the square. It is to be assumed, therefore, that when he sang that verse, in addition to what the bertsolaris were going to be in the future, he thought that the plazas would always be filled, since then the performances were something more. People gathered in the squares and in the town celebrations to listen to the Bertsolaris. The bertsolaris had a great success then and they were called many. It was another time. Today, it is only in some villages that actions of bertsolarism are organised on other occasions, I say in this Iparralde, that is obvious. There has long been no habit of organising them and we can say that it has been lost in part. It is a pity, but you have to believe that things are going to change.

Xilabaz: number of heads...

You will listen, listen and listen to the criticisms about Xilaba, and I want to make it clear that everyone has the right to express their opinion. Negative or positive, always thinking that criticism always awakens some reflection.

Do you have to make a championship? Fifteen bertsolaris, is that enough? Are the issues quite good? Do the presenters do it right? Do judges do a good job? Thousands of questions have been asked and you can have long discussions but I am sure that, well or badly done, anyone who brings their help from far or close at the Xilaba championship does so with a lot of will. With great will, affection and conviction.

Everyone believes that going for our language is to organise a bertsolaris championship and the solidarity and support we have had in each small town are the main proof of this. On the coast, on the inside, it has received welcome and good behaviour everywhere.

A good start

This year’s edition kicked off in San Juan de Luz and remembered, without a doubt, that along with AMETS Arzallus, which was in the eliminatory, young people such as Kerman Díaz and Nahia Sasco appeared on stage for the first time, who showed their great talent. Older people may not give the witness so easily, but first of all they will always give their help.

The second eliminatory took place in the Posonpesenea room of Muskildi, on the first day of October, and the room did not waste time to warm up: there was a great mental atmosphere on stage and in front, from the first greeting of Aitor Servier, to the last goodbye of Ortzi Idoate, not to mention that of Battitt Crouspey.

Baigorri the third nest for Xilaba and what nest! In this first semifinal, the six bertsolaris offered a high-level performance, heating the classrooms of Plaza Xoa. Subai hill and Odei Barroso entered the championship and Egoitz Zelaia went ahead.

The second semifinal was located near the stands of Isturitz. Those who doubted that the people of Arberua are fond of Bertsolaris were proved. A certain tension was then perceived, perhaps due to Ramuntxo Christy, a neighbour of the town.

The next weekend, in Aiziritz, we live what has almost never happened in the championship. In the six bertsolaris, four women singing: Maddi Sarasua, Maddalen Arzallus, Nahia Sasco and Miren Artetxe. The latter reminded the women that on their first birthday they sang bertsos.

Finally, the semifinals were played in Larresoro, in the classroom full of local people. The final ticket was then disputed between Xumai Murua and Eneritz Zabaleta and was in favour of Xumai.

A total of 15 young people participated in the Bertsolaris Championship in Iparralde, Xiberua, Lapurdi and Baxenafar held in Xilaba. Fifteen young people have believed in the role of Xilaba, that is, to offer bertsolari and therefore to the Basque Country the place it deserves in the three territories of Ipar Euskal Herria. Starting in San Juan de Luz, Xilaba will move to Muskiz, Baigorri, Isturitz, Aiziritz, Larresoro and on 12 November to Baiona. The V edition will have seven performances, hundreds of listeners, dozens of judges, authors of themes, authors of themes, bertsolaris and collaborators, and, if only for that, it has been worth it.

Who knows, maybe we can sing. “For a young man, fifteen young people have come later.”