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For another year, the five days of the Fair went off without a hitch and we are now in the process of evaluating how this 52nd edition went.  According to the information provided by the organization, some 110,000 people attended.  In regards to the Diaspora, the Basque Global Network, under the slogan “diasporizatu” had its own stand.  Recently arrived from Reno, via Uruguay, we saw historian Xabier Irujo, director of the Nevada, Reno University CBS, who was born in Caracas, signing copies of his latest book. 

Durango, Bizkaia.   The organization as well as the exhibitors were very satisfied with the 52nd edition of the Durangoko Azoka (Basque Fair of the Book and Disc, that closed its doors yesterday in Landako.  Despite the weather that especially didn’t cooperate on some of the days, the numbers provided by Gerediaga indicate that some 110,000 people visited the fair from December 6-10, providing an economic impact of 7.2 million Euros.  The program, based in eight different zones, is visited more and more in function of the activities in the program.  In the area of the Diaspora, the Basque clubs didn’t have their own stand this year, but the Basque Government sponsored the presentation of the Basque Global Network (BGN), an initiative whose slogan is “diasporizatu” that aspires to become the meeting point of Basques around the world.

Mario and Claudia were in charge of manning the Basque Global Network Stand at the Durango Book Fair (photoEuskalKultura.com)

According to those at the stand, the initiative sponsored by the Director of the Basque Community Abroad, the BGN is a social network whose aim is “to put the Basque community around the world in touch, reaching Basques who live or work outside of Euskadi as well as those residing in Euskadi with an international projection, as well as people with an affinity for the Basque culture and its traditions and professionals in any sector wishing to establish new contacts around the world.”

Through BGN it is possible to “exchange ideas, share documents and multimedia content as well as keep up to date on news from Euskadi.” The initiative also allows for the formation of groups by theme or shared interests.

During the Fair people related one way or another to the Diaspora were seen on both sides of the counter along with books published in the Diaspora, or about the Diaspora that were dispersed among various stands.  Among these were books from the Center for Basque Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno and the Basque publisher, Ekin in Buenos Aires.

Authors also autographed copies of their books, like Xabier Irujo Amezaga who came from Reno via Uruguay to the fair.  Copies of his latest book The Alternative Truth: 30 Lies about the Bombing of Gernika, were also at the stand.  There were also musicians there who shared news of a possible US tour through Idaho and Nevada, and maybe even California, but details are yet to be determined.