hurrengoa
Durangoko azoka, 37th edition: a new future for the fair? jon benito   THE LONG WEEKEND AT THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER IS ONE OF THE MAIN YEARLY REFERENCE POINTS FOR BASQUE CULTURE. IT’S TIME FOR THE DURANGO BASQUE LANGUAGE BOOK & MUSIC FAIR. RECORD COMPANIES, BOOK PUBLISHERS AND ALTERNATIVE EDITING GROUPS PLACE THE AUTUMN’S, AND IN SOME CASES, THE YEARLY OFFERINGS ON DISPLAY. "There has been debate on whether Durango has become the basque "mecca", on whether it's an event sustained by the media and if the fair is nothin more tan an illusion as far as the yearly cultural production is concerned"

A few years have passed since the early days of the fair when it was held under the shelter of the village church porch. Things have changed since then, and not just as far as location is concerned. The atmosphere is not the same, the number of books and records shifted is not the same, the presence of the Fair in the media is not the same. The market importance of this December fair is also not the same.

The success of the Fair
This Fair has often been regarded as the mirror image of the state of Basque culture. Last year’s figures speak for themselves: between 200,000 and 225,000 visitors bought thousands of books and records. Antton Mari Aldekoa-Otalora, the man in charge at the Gerediaga Association, stated that it had been the biggest attendance ever. 137 different companies from the sector will have their wares on display at 271 different stands at this year’s fair from the 4th to the 8th of December.
The reason why the Durango fair is so important in the world of books and music is that it gives record companies, book publishers and others in the field who are hidden away for most of the year a public stand to make people aware of their existence. Just as it is a chance for small low key producers to avail of decent distribution, the fair is also a chance for other projects to catch their breathe. The fair not only helps maintain projects by giving them a healthy cash injection, it also lends an air of professionalism to these very same projects who are given a chance to show their year’s wares to people who, throughout the year, have little or no contact with the world of Basque literature and music.
That’s another on the interesting things about the fair: the variety of the people that attend. You get dedicated readers and music listeners who are along to see all the latest releases, and you get those who use the fair as an excuse for a day out with friends. This last group doesn’t normally frequent bookshops, yet they normally buy something at the fair. This is one of the reasons for the fair’s success.
There aren’t many editorials or artists who are not amazed by the scale of the fair but here are also some who want to change a couple of things before the fair overdoses on success and kills itself.

The Fair: doubts and shadows.
After last year’s edition of the fair, the organisers at Gerediaga admitted that improvements were possible and that the enormous growth of the fair over the previous few years had led many people to demand a definition of what the fair was really about. The demand wasn’t in vain. The original objectives haven’t changed but, as previously mentioned, the fair has.
Many people, who don’t question the necessity of the fair itself, have expressed their concern at all the paraphernalia that has sprung up around the fair. There has been debate on whether Durango has become the Basque “Mecca”, on whether it’s an event sustained by the media and if the fair is nothing more than an illusion as far as the yearly cultural production is concerned. There also seems to be a general sensation that it’s getting out of hand. There is a feeling that products that have nothing to do with the idea behind the fair are diluting the whole thing.

What has the fair evolved into? Where is it going to?
The doubts and worries about sales are not the only ones. What is sold? Do people later listen to and read what they have bought? Has Durango not been inflated to bursting point? What does the future hold for the Fair? What is the exact role of Basque language products at the Fair? Should work published in Spanish be allotted space at a Basque Language Fair? Are the dates the most appropriate? Should there not be more fairs? Has the fair itself not become too important and thus affected work in music and culture?
Once last year’s edition had finished and was being evaluated, this year’s edition was presented as a transition year because next year will see the fair being re-housed. A new building and a new future but the questions asked above still remain the same. We’ll have to look at them next year. Making your way safely through the deluge.
We’ve already mentioned that the Fair is a showcase for Autumn novelties and this year’s edition is no different. Here’s a little advice to help you successfully navigate the flood of new goodies:
There will be a new issue of the music magazine “Entzun” in its brand new format. The magazine takes a look at the latest from home and abroad. The compilation of previously unreleased tracks by different artists , “Bonberenak”, will undoubtedly be one of the stars of the show this year. Metak Records will have latest by Sorkun and the third album by BED. Gaztelupeko Hotsak Records will be bringing along “Antenna”, the debut album by group Split 77, as well as duo Tapia eta Letia’s latest look at traditional music. Well worth a listen. Olatz Zugasti will be present with her record titled “Elenaren lainoa”, as will Joserra Senperena. Both of them are available from the Elkar stand. Oihuka Records will have the new digitalised version of “Tijuana in blue” and Gor Records will be there with Jousilouli’s latest.
Literature, as always, will play a very important role in the Fair. We would like to give poetry, which has become an important sector of the fair, a special mention. Ana Urkiza brings along her “Bazterreko ahotsa”, published by Elkarlanean, while Alberdania book publishers offer Juan Kruz Igerabide’s “Mailu Bat”. Txalaparta give us the translation of Genaro Almeyda’s Cabo Verde and Susa will be showing off their new re-edition of love stories by Xabier Mendiguren.
The Durango Fair is a tidal wave-flood in a year long cultural drought. Durango is responsible for magnifying the amount products on offer. A lot of work doesn’t get the attention it really deserves. That’s something that visitors is just going to have to find out for themselves.