From the Federation of Dance Colles and Popular Culture of Ibiza, we wish to express our feelings of sorrow and also indignation regarding what we consider an inappropriate use of elements characteristic of our local culture, which creates an attitude of rejection towards these acts.
It is not the first time we see how, with total impunity, elements that make up our traditional culture are used, being little short of ridiculed or disparaged. In this world of globalizing culture and immediate information, part of the citizenry has become disaffected from its roots and cultural heritage. Especially in a place as international as the island of Ibiza where, during the summer months, there are many more (in quantity) ‘visitors’ than ‘residents’.
However, many of us still recognize as our own a legacy and cultural expressions and manifestations inherited from many generations ago. We all are or want to be modern, but we also like to feel part of our own community that has its own distinctive symbols and, of great value, some of them declared Assets of Cultural Interest in their Immaterial category, such as the Caramelles and the 4 oldest dances (La Curta, La Llarga, Sa Filera and Ses nou o dotze Rodades). Declared, and therefore, understood to be protected. Protected against acts that, due to their denaturalization, could harm them.
Last summer, a Colla of Ball Pagès had to cancel its performance at the Port of Vila’s pier because tourists on a mega yacht, to avoid hearing the music of drums and castanets, played their music at a blaring volume. This provoked the indignation of many Ibizans who demonstrated on Saint Ciriac’s day with a large castanyolada.
Recently, a well-known nightclub used the figure of a traditional Ibizan woman to advertise its parties, and some time ago, that of a traditional Ibizan dancer. And now, the same club has published a video using images of male and female dancers to advertise what they call «The Spirit of the Island».
Naturally, many people find this deplorable, others not so much… where are the limits? The issue is that there has been an unconsented use by the bearer community, understanding ‘bearer community’ as defined by Law 10/2015, for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Spanish State, which are none other than the holders of cultural heritage, the maintainers and legitimate users of these uses, customs, and traditions. The new law for the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, following the UNESCO Conventions of 2003 and 2005 on respect, is explicit regarding natural and logical evolution, dialogue, accessibility, and dynamism. However, it is also explicit regarding sustainability, and we quote article 3.h textually when speaking of the general principles of safeguarding actions concerning the safeguarding of cultural heritage:
The sustainability of intangible cultural manifestations, avoiding quantitative and qualitative alterations of their cultural elements alien to the bearer and managing communities themselves. Tourist activities may never violate the essential characteristics or the proper development of the manifestations, so that their appropriation and public enjoyment can be reconciled with respect for the assets and their protagonists.
Furthermore, Article 5 of the aforementioned law addresses the plunder and export of assets which, due to their intangible nature, are extremely vulnerable to actions aimed at the non-preservation of the asset in its space and context, and also the deprivation of its social function, denaturalizing or preventing the normal development of cultural practice or the fulfillment of its social function through the expression of the values of the bearer community.
We are aware that the Government of the Balearic Islands is in the process of updating and modernizing Law 1/2002, on popular and traditional culture of the Balearic Islands. It is therefore the appropriate moment to take into account these actions and inertias which, far from enriching and fostering an enriching dialogue and a logical and natural evolution due to changing circumstances, lead us to an irremediable acculturation, the result of a globalizing culture that neither understands nor wishes to understand roots, cultural heritage, nor has any respect for the bearer communities of this heritage or set of manifestations of the memory and collective life of the Pitiusan people. Measures must be put in place to prevent the commercial and/or tourist use and the lucrative use of what forms part of our identity symbols.
From the Federation of Dance Colles and Popular Culture of Ibiza, we consider that public administrations must ensure the survival of our cultural heritage and, as established by Law 1/2002 in its article 3.2: they must pursue the social and cultural valorization of popular and traditional culture. And article 4.4 obliges administrations, especially local councils, within the framework of their competencies, to the protection and promotion of the ethnological assets of their municipal area.
Therefore, we urge public administrations to safeguard our intangible cultural heritage and to prevent actions by the tourism, business, or private sectors that denaturalize and/or ridicule our identity symbols, our cultural expressions, and their bearer agents.
Ibiza, July 2, 2018.
Signed: Federation of Dance Colles and Popular Culture of Ibiza
