Bilintx

Bilintx (1831-1876) was the pseudonym of Jose Manuel Lujanbio Retegi, a renowned Basque poet and improviser (bertsolari). He was born in Usurbil, Gipuzkoa, and is considered a significant figure in the history of Basque oral literature and bertsolarismo (the art of improvised verse). While relatively little of his written work survives, his fame rests primarily on accounts of his extraordinary performances in public contests and gatherings. Bilintx's skill in extemporaneous verse, his wit, and his ability to connect with audiences made him a popular and influential figure. He died relatively young, but his legacy endures in the oral tradition and in the collected anecdotes and documented bertsoak attributed to him. He is often seen as a symbol of the vibrant cultural life of the Basque Country during the 19th century.