Miñan: A Story of Migration and Creation

Kaixo!

From the London Basque Society, we warmly invite you to a friendly conversation around the book Miñan, taking place on May 21.

Based on the story of Ibrahima Balde, Miñan brings together the key voices behind the book to reflect on its creation process and the languages of storytelling.

The book began with Ibrahima Balde’s oral testimony, which was then written down by Amets Arzallus and later translated into English and adapted for the stage by Timberlake Wertenbaker.

Together with all of them, we will discuss the path this story has taken: Miñan as a personal and collective tale, spoken and transcribed, translated, staged… Don’t miss the chance to join us on May 21!

Ibrahima Balde

Ibrahima Balde is a migrant from the Republic of Guinea, who crossed the Sahara Desert northwards in search of his younger brother. After entering the European Union without papers, he made his way to the Basque Country, where he met Amets Arzallus while staying in a homeless shelter in Irun. Ibrahima was later granted asylum and now lives in Madrid, Spain.

Amets Arzallus Antia

Amets Arzallus Antia, born in Hendaia (Basque Country), is the son of Basque refugees and a well-known writer and bertsolari (improvised verse singer). He won the 2013 Basque Country Championship for bertsolaris and works with an organization supporting migrants in the Basque Country.

Timberlake Wertenbaker

Timberlake Wertenbaker is a playwright, screenwriter, and translator based in the UK. She has written plays for the Royal Court, Royal Shakespeare Company, and many others. The Washington Post described her as “the doyenne of political theatre in the 1980s and 1990s.” Born in New York City to journalist Charles Wertenbaker and writer Lael Wertenbaker, she spent much of her childhood in Ciboure, in the Basque Country.

A one-hour conversation hosted by journalist Ane Roteta, followed by an opportunity to continue the discussion informally.