Francisco “Paco” Igartua (1923-2004)
Francisco “Paco” Igartua was a Basque-Peruvian journalist whose life embodies the feeling shared by many Basques of the Diaspora: deeply rooted in the land where they were born or grew up in while at the same time aware of their belonging to the Basque nation.
Born in Peru to a Basque family, his career as a journalist had a huge influence throughout Latin America. The founder of leading media outlets, he focused his work along well-defined social and political lines: defense of the freedom of the press, criticism of corruption, commitment to democracy, and sensitivity to social justice.
His Basque identity was neither symbolic nor decorative. He actively participated in Basque World Congresses and reflected on the role of the diaspora as a living part of the nation. He represented a generation of Basques who, from outside the traditional homelands, maintained their awareness, commitment, and international reach.
👉 More about his life and legacy
Why the Paco Igartua Project?
This project is getting started in collaboration with the Limako Arantzazu Euzko Etxea, an institution that has for years raised up the profile and thoughts of Paco Igartua as a role model for social, democratic, and political commitment.
This is not an isolated case, either. It’s part of a shared line of work that has given rise to many collaborations, such as:
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- Recalling the more than 100 years of the presence of the Basque Passionists in the Peruvian Amazon.
- The series dedicated to the bicentennial of the new world republics and their relationship with the Basque diaspora.
The Paco Igartua Project is part of that same commitment to remembering and spreading the word.
Current Lines of Work
We are currently working in two main areas:
Distributing information internationally
This is a weekly bulletin sent to Basque centers all over the world, including information related to:
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- Basque Centers
- Basques in the world
With the aim of reinforcing the news and information connection among the diaspora, as well as promoting the public visibility and presence of the Basque Centers.
Audiovisual Memory
We’ve set up a series of videos dedicated to the memory, life, and career of Basques in the world, told in first person by the people who lived them, or by those close to them.
Soon, more details will be available about this initiative and how to participate.
Future Reach
This project will continue to grow with new initiatives linked to the international memory, analysis, and reach of the Basque Diaspora.
Because the Diaspora is not a memory of the past.
It is an active part of the present and the future of the Basques.
