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Lima, Peru.  The Basque community of Peru has held several activities in recent weeks in honor of its Basque heritage, with events in the capital of Lima, but also in other important cities in the country such as Piura, Cajamarca, Trujillo, Jauja, Ica, Arequipa and Cusco.  Peru has a notable Basque lineage that goes back to the sixteenth century, which is also expressed in the founding of institutions which still exist today such as in the case of the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Arantzazu that was founded in Lima in 1612.

Events included lectures commemorating Euskera Day and San Javier that culminated with a large lunch in Lima.  The talks were given by renowned specialists and according with the organizers were attended by hundreds of people of Basque descent who sought to ratify the identity of their ancestors.

Tribute to Francisco Igartua

March 24 will mark the ninth anniversary of the death of journalist Francisco Igartua, a prominent promoter of the Basque community in Peru.  The Editorial Fund was founded in his name to sustain the work, and is carrying out a series of activities, the most notable of which is the celebration of the Quadricentennial of the foundation of the Brotherhood of Arantzazu, between September and November 2012.

In activities that took place between December 3 and now, descendants of Basque families such as: Leguía, Piérola, De la Puente, Echenique, Derteano de Aliaga, Goyeneche, Zavala, Barandiaran, Ugarte, Ugarteche, Unánue, Salaverry, Orbegoso, and others linked to historical, cultural, economic and the political life of the country.

The traveling Virgin

According to Jhon Bazan, director of the Editorial Fund Oiga Magazine, as part of these activities, a statue of Our Lady of Arantzazu brought to Peru nearly 33 years ago from Oñate, is visiting the homes of Basque families in Lima as well as other places throughout the country.  The statue was brought from the Basque Country by Fr. Antonio Maria Artola Arbiza and was given to the Brotherhood during celebrations. 

Finally, these activities will conclude on February 14 with an anniversary celebration of the founding of the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Arantzazu at the emblematic, Club Nacional, in Lima, located downtown.