the happiness of returning

Euskaraz irakurri: Itzuleraren poza

On the last day of this 57th edition of Durangoko Azoka, smiles were seen behind the counters, on the faces of members of music groups, writers and writers and representatives of publishers and record companies; They smiled because, after two editions mediated by the pandemic, the Durango Fair “has returned to normal” this year, both in the relationship between buyers and sellers and in the volume of sales.

Once the Azoka model has returned to normal, both Idoia Gonzalez, Erein’s Communications manager, and Olatz Osa, a member of Elkar, stress that people “have come to buy.” The public has returned “with desire”, according to Gonzalez, and it has been seen that they have not only bought novelties, but also titles from the back catalogue.

They are also satisfied at the Susa publishing house, as its editor Leire Lopez Ziluaga explains to us: “The number of people and sales on Thursday was incredible, but then it has remained. I would tell you that we will exceed the numbers of 2019,” he specifies.

The narrative titles published this winter are the best sellers in Sousse, but each book, including poetry and drama, has sold very well, each in its measure.

Satisfaction is influenced by the perception collected at the counters of the Igela publishing house through its director, Lander Majuelo: “There has been a very good atmosphere, and I would say that on Thursday we broke a record. After the pandemic, a kind of anxiety is detected before cultural activity: concert tickets… And I would say that this trend has also been noticeable in the Azoka”.

Pello Elzaburu, a member of the Pamiela publishing house, accompanies the satisfaction with hope, by highlighting the results of works of children’s and youth literature: “It has worked like a locomotive, and those will be the readers of tomorrow,” he says.

Among the best-selling titles have been: “Munduari bira eman zion ontzia” by Joseba Sarrionandia and “Azken Etxea” by Arantxa Urretabizkaia (Pamiela); “Puskak” by Irene Pujades, “Antzinako berri-berriak” by Kae Tempest and “Kale gorriko umeak” by Pier Paolo Pasolini (Igela); “El maizal” and “Bretxa” by Toti Martinez de Lezea and “7 G udalekuak” by Nerea Loiola (Erein); “Gari eta goroldiozko” by Anari Alberdir and “Bar Gloria” by Nerea Ibarzabal (Susa); and “Ni ez naiz Mikel Laboa” by Harkaitz Cano, Unai Iturriaga and Joseba Larratxerena, and “Berriz zentauro” by Katixa Agirre (Elkar).

Music

In the musical field, satisfaction was also widespread. Xan Bidegain, bassist for Willis Drummond, told us that “it is a miracle to sell CDs in 2022, and here it happens”. Musician Esti Markez endorses this statement: “Last year was very hard, and this year has been better. Above all we have sold CDs.”

This year, the Durangoko Azoka organization has allowed music groups to sell merchandising to partly offset the losses linked to the decrease in the sale of music on physical support. Groups and soloists can sell some item along with their new records, and most have opted for T-shirts and tote bags.

Xan Bidegain and Jurgi Ekiza, by Willis Drummond

The most sold by the Zetak group, for example, have been the cloth bags or tote bags: “We brought three models, and we only have a few of one of the models left,” they tell us in their stall.

Jurgi Ekiza, from Willis Drummond, affirms that it is a measure that helps, but that reflection on the format of recorded music cannot be postponed, because “selling clothes is not culture”.

The organization, “with good feelings”

The organization of the Durango Fair will wait until late in the afternoon to make its official assessment, but the coordinator of Gerediaga Elkartea, Beñat Gaztelurrutia, claims to have seen “very happy” visitors and vendors: “It has been a free and calm Azoka, adequate to visit with satisfaction, and has fulfilled its function”.