Sabrina Otegui/Unquillo, Argentina. When speaking of Basque immigrants to Argentina or Latin America, it is almost always about those who came during the conquest, or in the last centuries, above all during the end of the nineteenth, or beginning of the twentieth. And with good reason, as the majority of Basques in the diaspora today are descendants of those men and women who crossed the ocean without knowing for sure what they may find on the “new” continent.
But years continue to pass and we can’t say that the migrant flow has stopped. With more time in between and in smaller numbers, it is certain that Basques continue to come to Argentina looking for alternatives with the same goal of working in mind, as those in centuries past, for a better future. They don’t wear txapelas anymore and they don’t work on dairy farms, even though they keep their Basque accent, just like our parents and grandparents who continue down the same path speaking Basque, climbing mountains and committing themselves to the reality that surrounds them.
Physics, Mountaineer, Teaching
“I was born in Elgoibar, Gipuzkoa in 1968 in the heart of a Basque family. From my childhood I started to study music, especially the accordion. At the same time, and once I graduated, I began a career in Physics at the University of the Basque Country. Once I graduated, at the age of 23, I came to Argentina for the first time to continue my studies. That is how I got to know this 'corner of the world.' Thanks to a scholarship in hopes of continuing my studies of physics theory, I came to Cordoba to the College of Math, Astronomy and Physics, FaMAF. I was there nearly four years and during that time I had a lot of possibilities to get to know the mountains of Cordoba and as well as the Andes.
“At the end of this period, I had to go back to the Basque Country where I worked for five years. Since then I have dedicated myself to teaching, an activity that has converted into my work and the most important occupation in my life. In 1999, I decided to return to Argentina to live there. The place that I chose to establish myself in was Unquillo, Cordoba, since I prefer small quiet towns surrounded by mountains to life in the city. As soon as I arrived, I started working at the high school “Centro de Educación Collegium,” where I still work today. It is a special school that also provides musical training and in addition we are organized as coop work.”
Music: “Zingaros-New Gypsy Tango”
“The group 'Zingaros-New Gypsy Tango' started in 2004 and I joined in 2006. Our base is gypsy music from Eastern Europe, it is very rich music. Don’t forget that there are gypsy communities in every European community and many of them, taking advantage of local traditional ways of playing, play their own music. They are usually very skilled musicians, passionate and expressive. There are many different types of gypsy music; the most widespread around the world is Flamenco, although there are many other types that are equally valuable.”
[An Argentinean classic, El Choclo, played by “Zingaros-New Gypsy Tango,” these and other songs can be heard on the group’s website: www.zingaros.com.ar]
"In our case, the music that we make has nothing to do with Flamenco; we work with Eastern European styles with an aesthetic objective of merging that music with Argentinean music, to elaborate, on that basis, music that has an Argentinean feel with, for example, a touch of tango. What we do has a bit of tango but also a little of candombe, milonga or so. In the end, we like to explore.”
“Last year we published our third album, the second official one. Our CDs in Argentina are independent and on the international level ARC Music in England, edits and distributes our work. In Argentina, we usually play at theaters, festivals, bars and plazas in Cordoba and in the surrounding areas. Over the last five years we have carried out tours in theaters and on stage in various European countries.”
Different landscapes but the same hobby
“Like many Basques I really like mountaineering. I have always had a great passion for climbing mountains, and getting to the summit. There I have known and climbed a large number of mountains in Argentina and other countries. After having done my first trips through the mountains of Cordoba, I went directly to the Andes; I started in Aconcagua, and I fell in love with these heights.”
“I have made good friends among mountaineers and I often got to the range. As soon as the school year is over, and summer vacation has started, I leave the books and the accordion and I go climbing. This is the plan every year. I have been in Bolivia, Chile but usually go to the Argentinean Andes.”
Basque clubs, a road in two directions
“I always knew that Basque clubs existed, even before coming here. I knew that there was a club in Cordoba, but to tell you the truth, I have never been too worried about going there. For one reason, or another, I made the difficult decision to live far from the Basque Country and I didn’t think that it was a question of going so far away to live in a Basque ambience. I have friends that are part of the clubs and I am often surprised by their passion for being Basque.”
“In some way I feel like they have done just the opposite of me. During these years I have made a big effort to learn how to live far from the Basque Country; in their case, having been born, having lived and studied here, as their parents and grandparents, they make a huge effort and work hard to stay close to the Basque Country, its culture and its language. It seems strange to me, at the same time admirable of course.”
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