– A conversation with Miguel Anxo Murado
[in English]
23 November 6.30pm
Livraria Orfeu, 43 Rue du Taciturne (Metro Maalbeek)
BBC Journalist, war correspondent and Galician language writer Migel Anxo Murado has been invited by Couto Mixto Bruxelas ASBL , the Brussels Galician cultural society in Brussels, for an exchange about what is Galicia, that often forgotten corner in the North West of Iberia
Murado has authored over twenty books of fiction and non-fiction, the latest of which is "Another Idea of Galicia", in which the writer shares an insider's look at the history, traditions, politics and culture of this ”Atlantic bubble in a Mediterranean area”
As a journalist, he has covered the wars of Balkans and the Second Palestinian Intifada. A former correspondent in Jerusalem for a number of years, currently he is a political analyst on International Affairs at Spain's Cadena SER radio and a regular contributor to the BBC and The Guardian on Spanish affairs.
Murado was joined in the conversation by the novelist and this years’ winner of the Xerais Literary Prize, the most important fiction book award in Galician language Xavier Queipo, as well as journalist and Couto Mixto Chairwoman Ana Fontal.
Couto Mixto ASBL, a cultural association made up by young Galician expats living in Brussels whose main purpose is the promotion of the Galician culture in Europe’s capital. We invite anyone interested in learning about this and sharing experiences about cultural diversity in Europe to join us in a friendly discussion.
Admission is free. The conference will be held in English. Please confirm attendance by writing to coutomixtobruxelas@gmail.com
A video of the full conference will be available in this site shortly.About Galicia
Galicia is, of the three recognised historic nationalities in Spain, the least likely to be known in Europe, and even in Spain itself, despite being one of the most particular. To dispel those mists, Miguel-Anxo Murado will offer the audience a lively tour of the, history, sociology, politics and geography Galicia. This is a moderately unorthodox, and often surprising course, in which, discarding the clichés heaped upon this country both by visitors as well as Galicians themselves, gives a fresh look at phenomena such as massive emigration (one third of the 3.5 million Galicians live abroad, one further million left for America in the 20th century to the point of playing a role akin of the Irish in the US) , local rivalries and political chieftainships , the conservative streak of their society or even misunderstandings about its very wet Atlantic climate and its mountainous , atomised landscape (30,000 out of Spain's 60,000 inhabited places). Are Galician really Celts? Why in spite of the Galician language being the most widely spoken after Spanish, there are not the same degree of political activism as in Catalonia or the Basque country?Why was the Castilian King Alfonso X writing his poetry in the Galician language? Why are there, scattered around Brussels pavements bronze shells pointing to the South West?
23 November 6.30pm
Livraria Galego- Portuguesa “Orfeu” Portuguese Galician Library
Rue Taciturne 43 , Brussels (between Rue Stevin and Square Marie Louise)