Bertsolaritza - The Basque Rap

Bertsolarism or Bertsolaritza is the art of singing improvised songs in Basque according to different melodies and rhyming patterns. The songs are called bertsos and combine poetry, humor as well as current issues. A bertso consists of two main components: the spontaneous verse and its melody. As there is no requirement for bertsolari (a person who sings a bertso) to use Standard Basque it often results in a diverse mix of different dialects.

This Basque tradition dates back at least to the fifteenth century, however, there is little proof until the nineteenth century.

Bertsos can be performed at various informal events either by one or multiple bertsolaris. Apart from competitions on a provincial level, such as the Bizkaiko Bertsolari Txapelketa in Biscay or Nafarroako Bertsolari Txapelketa in Navarre, there is the Euskal Herriko Bertsolari Txapelketa Nagusia (“Great Bertsolari Championship of the Basque Country”) which takes place every four years since 1935. The bertsolari compete against each other for the txapela, the "winner's beret".

Traditionally Bertsolarism was mainly practiced by men, but nowadays there are more and more young female bertsolaris. In 2009, Maialen Lujanbio Zugasti became the first woman to win Euskal Herriko Bertsolari Txapelketa Nagusia. She went on to win for the second and third time in 2017 and 2022, making her the only woman to have won it three times.

The following video shows the athmosphere of the 2022 Bertsolaritza competition Euskal Herriko Bertsolari Txapelketa Nagusia during the performance of winner Maialen Lujanbio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmQYojxRUZg

Her and Amets Arzallus are the most prominent bertsolaris of the recent generations but the list continues to grow. Thanks to the Association of the Friends of Bertsolaritza Bertsozale Elkartea and the Bertso-Eskolas bertsolaris has been on a constant path of improvement and recognition.

It is not by chance that the quality and diversity of bertsolaris is constantly improving. It is the result of the tireless work of the Bertso Eskolas (bertsolari schools) and the efforts made in compulsory education. And, to a large extent, thanks to the immeasurable work of the Association of the Friends of Bertsolaritza Bertsozale Elkartea.

The bertso-eskola, or bertsolari schools, are learning and training centers for Bertsolarism. There are currently around 50 in the Basque Country, as well as one outside the seven provinces, in Barcelona.​​

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Etxepare Euskal Institutua, Vimeo, Wikipedia, eitb.eus, bertsolari.eus