When we woke up, culturally and administratively, the landscape showed a three-speed disaster.

As far as culture is concerned, I had the opportunity – once again – to confirm this last November 14 at the Mint library in Ortzaize. There we met because Eñaut Etxamendi presented the new edition of the novel Gilentegilo Gilen (City of Irun Prize 1987).

A good group of people met to hear the words of Ezterenzubitarra, which will turn 90 next year. Etxamendi acknowledged that Gilentegi’s book “ebaxka” is “hatsa -patsaka.” It was necessary to dedicate itself to agriculture, politics, singing, teaching, so that a youth who had only to go to “Amiketa” [America] to stay and live in Baja Navarra. Also in literature, of course. I transcribe your words from the audio I have heard on the Irulegi Radio website, as faithfully as possible: “Here came the young people in particular, but not only the young people of any age, as we know Euskera, we have to rehearse, put on paper… I wasn’t going to have great readers, I couldn’t see you moving, how I could make my stories known to people, but if there was no one to read, I need to continue living for him to the head… so that someone can keep it ever. So, it's my most intimate desire among you, all around you, you've brought out writers. That is inevitable.”

We live in a three-speed Basque Country and, therefore, that song in the literature may seem strange or distant, out of place, to a young writer from the CAV; however, we were moved by a Bajonavarro public that has not completely drowned from the rapid floods of French in recent years, or by Navarre that we do not see too strong reasons to forget about our first motivations. Regretted, at the conference there was no specimen of Euskal Herria of “high speed”. No media representatives who could spread the news in the coming days. I fear that one of the consequences of three rapids is not to live from one side to the other, perhaps the biggest one I know.

From the evidence that everyone can only use their forces, Etxamendi is optimistic, but he realizes that in Nafarroa Beherea something has started to move, of course, in literature and in many other areas. With regard to the production that comes from there, with quantity and quality, you will not lack reason. The Basque literature, to be bold, has been launched in Lower Navarre (eye, that high speed, boot and rage are two things). Etxamendi ended his speech with words full of hope: “After all my life in the wound, I am aging with happiness.”