Catalan is lived, danced and defended: Manacor surrenders to Acampallengua
Thousands of young people participate in the meeting organized by Joves de Mallorca per la Llengua, with concerts, workshops and spaces for claims throughout the city
ManacorThe Acampallengua of Manacor creates a talent pool, and dances, and a desire to continue using Catalan as the habitual language of Mallorcan life. This has been the first day of the annual meeting organized by Joves de Mallorca per la Llengua, which has brought together thousands of people around the various proposals distributed in different spaces of the city.
Although the day began with the name, that is, with the campout. From 10:00 a.m., hundreds of young people began to arrive at the plot of land provided by the Manacor City Council between the ronda de Felanitx and Na Molla park so they could set up their tents and begin the tour of the activities scheduled from 11:00 a.m. onwards. People arriving from many towns on the island and from Catalonia, seeking to coexist and make new friends with Catalan as a common social tool. Taking advantage, on this occasion, of the strong network of Manacor social collectives.
Francesca Mas, from Son Serra, and Irene Díaz, from Palma, agreed on the desire to "have a great time above all, to reclaim Catalan and our culture, which is being lost. It is important to maintain it, enjoy it and meet people". Margalida Grimat, from Manacor, highlights that what she likes most is "being able to invite friends from Barcelona so they can see that Mallorca is not just sun, beach, and tourism, but also a place to defend our language". Marta Alvarado, from Palma, explained the day's plans: "We feel like going to the anti-fascist workshop... and then to the festival and the concerts".
"The desire to participate and the atmosphere have brought us here," said Clara Gaià and Marina Bordoi, volunteers from Santa Margalida. "In the end, these activities that bring so many young people together serve to attract attention to be able to attract more people, we post it on social media to make them want to come and join us. We want to go to the rebel space".
In the courtyard of IES Manacor, a series of basketball and football sports tournaments have been held, organized precisely by the main teams from Manacor. An activity that had to share prominence with the successful theater workshop that began at the same time in the La Fornal hall, and with the rebel space in Font i Roig square, next to the baroque cloister, the true core of the protest, which has focused on militancy and agitation, through criticism of mass tourism or to reclaim the figure of Guillem Argulló.
In common
At the Alcover Institution, about a hundred meters further on, the violet space has been set up, where activists from the Assemblea Antipatriarcal or island journalists have shared experiences and struggles from a female perspective. A talk followed by a feminist self-defense workshop and a vermouth with Unió de Pagesos.
Trunks of the same thing, as if it were a kaleidoscope. A claim of what, as islanders, we don't like; safe havens and workshops to explain a reality that is not always pleasant, such as what was presented at the round table on journalism organized by ARA Balears or another on the collective response to the rise of racism in our society.
Thus, with the large mural in the camping area finished and the lunch break taken, the Acampallengua has lightened the load and the glosa workshops (in Ramon Llull square) and ball de bot (Weyler square) have gathered lovers of popular culture, who, from 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM onwards, have been able to apply what they learned with interest, before the parade that has brought all participants back from the market to Na Molla, where, as darkness fell, the concerts began. This year, with a luxury lineup and record premieres, such as those by La Ludwig Band, Maria Jaume or the local Plan-ET, who shared the spotlight with the folk electronics of Nastallat or Auxili.
Sunday
For tomorrow, Sunday, and with bodies rested from music, in Sa Bassa square there is a prepared memory route through the sensitive spaces of Manacor’s contemporary history and the impact of the Civil War; afterwards, in Convent square, a human tower exhibition. Starting at 10:30 am, the Catalan Scrabble tournament will be held at the municipal library, the truc tournament at Mig i Mig bar, and the discfòrum organized by Suralita at the Alcover Institution. All of this, mixed with musical alternatives for the little ones in Ramon Llull square, by Xic Xac Xou and Cucorba.