After two years of waiting, the streets of Bayonne will vibrate to the sound of bagpipes, txistu and songs during the holidays from July 27 to 31. Basque culture is well represented during the bayonnaise feria. Among the must-sees is the Karrikaldi (around the street in Basque). Basque culture for all is every year thousands of bestazales who meet at Place Jacques Portes at the end of the day from Thursday to Sunday. Initially, it was a desire to put Basque culture, living culture at the heart of the party. Guillaume Irigoyen, pillar of the Karrikaldi, reminds us how this great adventure began in the 90s with the Ibaialde and Leinua associations which worked in stages for its development.
Guillaume Irigoyen : In 1991 was born the first element of Karrikaldi, it is Dantzazpi. It was the era of the revival of mutxiko. On the program 1 hour of dance, Basque jumps place Montaut in Bayonne, around the monument, since Basque dances are danced in circles. In 1995, a new idea from Ibaialde on Basque singing. People sang but forgot the words. So they created the first booklet of popular Basque songs for the party. In 1996, a group of ikastola parents from Ibaialde created the bayonnaise jota, Baionako Jotak. And in 1997 Baionan Kantuz was born. At the Bayonne Festival, after the Dantzazpi, the jota arrive which is sung, then thanks to the Kanta Leon in the hands, Baionan Kantuz really took off. In a spontaneous and appreciated way, it returned to the official program of the Bayonne Festival.
A change of location linked to success
Guillaume Irigoyen : In 2005, it had become impossible place Montaut. A place that has become too cramped to accommodate the singers and dancers of the Bayonne Festival. Roger Goyeneche, member of Leinua, had the idea of using Place Jacques Portes. Under the ramparts of the Old Castle where there is a natural amphitheater, a wide street to be able to accommodate Dantzazpi and Baionan Kantuz. The Karrikaldi was conceived at that time, in 2006, with a dance performance part from 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m. a Kantaldi, then Dantzazpi, at 8 p.m. Baionan Kantuz and at 9:15 p.m. European folk dance.
The Karrikaldi is open to all
Since 2006, Karrikaldi has taken up residence at the foot of the Château Vieux. Singers and dancers meet there, but people passing through also find what they are looking for.
Guillaume Irigoyen : The definition of the circle is very important for Basque dances and jumps. They dance in a circle. People are outside the circle when they arrive, but they want to enter it. There are many stories where people who, coming to the Basque Country or coming to live in Bayonne or even being from Bayonne and not knowing the Basque jumps, discovered them in Karrikaldi.
What we propose is to party, it is not to consume the party, but to make it. To be a stakeholder, actor of the party. This is what Basque culture, which has always been popular, offers. We want to be a reflection of it.
Karrikaldi 2022
From Thursday to Sunday of the Bayonne Festival, it is therefore place Jacques Portes, next to the Château Vieux, that you have an appointment from 4:30 p.m. with the Karrikaldi.
- Thursday 07/28: Leinua Eskola, Kriolinak, Dantzazpi with Bilaka, Baionan Kantuz – Tuntuna, Karrikadantza with Otxo
- Friday 07/29: Makilari, Marilou, Dantzazpi competition with Leinua Txaranga, Baionan Kantuz – Tuntuna, Karrikadantza with Amikuzeko Txaranga
- Saturday 07/30: Leinua Konpainia, Jotas de Navarra, Dantzazpi with Leinua Txaranga, Baionan Kantuz with Ibaialdekokoro, Karrikadantza with Kiki Bordatxo
- Sunday 07/31: Orai Bat, Botakantu, Dantzazpi with Orai Bat txaranga, Baionan Kantuz with Tuntuna and Karrikadantza with Rita Mutxiko talde