Matanza

The matanza, or slaughter of the pig, is an ancient rural tradition in Ibiza which would bring together the local people each winter. Killing the pig and preparing the meat was a labour-intensive process which took a day or more and was followed by a night of celebration and feasting. A new exhibition by the publisher and historian Martin Davies brings the matanza to life through the photographs of the German Gustav von Estorff, who came to Ibiza in 1933. I recorded this interview at the exhibition which is on at Ses Arcades restaurant just outside San Juan until the 31st of July. Joining me are local man Jordi Planells who has witnessed matanzas and Martin Davies. To order "Ibiza: A Hundred Years of Light and Shade" visit https://www.liveibiza.com/ibiza_literature/hundred_years.htm or e-mail mpodavies@gmail.com

Om Podcasten

Welcome to Ibizology, a podcast exploring the culture, history and arts of the Balearic island of Ibiza. I’m Will Beacham, an Ibiza-based journalist and in each episode I interview an Ibizan who is contributing in some way to life on this wonderful island. Through their words I aim to bring to life different aspects of island living as they tell their unique stories. The Ibizan music you hear was recorded in July 1952 in the churchyard of the village of St Josep by the musicologist Alan Lomax. It is called “Bon amor jo et venc a veure” which translates from Catalan as “Good love, I come to see you.” It is part of a huge archive of folk music he recorded all over the world. The Ibizan segment of the archive can be heard at http://research.culturalequity.org/get-audio-ix.do?ix=recording&id=11950:89&idType=subregion&sortBy=abc The music, from the Alan Lomax Collection at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress. Used courtesy of the Association for Cultural Equity. Painting of Ibiza's Dalt Vila by Vicent Calbert, courtesy of Bar Costa, Santa Gertrudis.