A-Infos (en) France, UCL AL #360 - Culture - Fest-noz: Popular Culture, Culture of Struggle (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

There will have been at least 1,175 fest-noz and traditional dances in 
Brittany in 2024, based on figures from Tamm-Kreiz, an essential online 
calendar dedicated to the practice[2]. Presented as a living, 
intergenerational tradition, this article seeks to go beyond these 
platitudes to provide an overview of the regular and fruitful exchanges 
between the world of traditional music and dance and social struggles in 
Brittany. The summer of 2024 will be remembered as a rollercoaster: 
record electoral performances for the far right in the European 
elections, followed by a surprise legislative campaign that resulted in 
a relative majority for the left in the National Assembly. At the heart 
of this political moment, two op-eds are circulating in the Breton 
traditional music scene: "Folk against fascism" and "Don't give in to 
the sirens of the far right!", signed respectively by the Federation of 
Traditional Music & Dance Actors (FAMDT) and a more informal collective 
gravitating around the Breton Center for Popular Art in Rostrenen.

The first reaffirms an anti-fascist and anti-racist stance, as "popular 
traditions echo one another, wherever they originate," and the second 
motivates its call to vote against the far right with these two lines: 
"'benn 'efet da votiñ, choazit mat ho pilled," "when you go to vote, 
choose your ticket carefully." Written in 1929 and printed by the 
SFIO[1], the text, titled "Son ar vot" (the song of the vote), calls for 
a vote in the local elections in Poulaouenn against Pastor Guilly and 
his "white" list.

Good for them, because it was indeed the "red" list that won, while 
their song is still being sung a hundred years later. Closer to home, 
Youenn Gwerig sang "La gavotte du joint" (The Gavotte of the Joint) in 
reference to the victorious strike of Alcatel workers in Saint-Brieuc in 
1972, many of whom were young people leaving the poverty of rural 
Brittany, even though the region was not historically a working-class 
stronghold. Written half in French and half in Breton, it explains that 
low wages drove the mobilization, before the boss, in his distress, 
called the CRS (riot police) to "vit gouzout piv a ren" (to find out who 
was leading the strike).

In recent years, the struggles against the mega-sinking facilities have 
been the subject of numerous songs. Among the most notable are "Et si 
l'idée coulait de source" (Hamon Martin Quintet), "Au mois de mai" 
(Tallec/Noguet), and "Mille et Cent" (Ciac Boom).

Poster for the wild Fest-deiz (carnival) against the Bolloré empire on 
Sunday, February 2, 2025.
If we hear protest songs at fest-noz or traditional dances, it's also 
because this practice has long been embraced by social movements as a 
tool for meeting, publicizing their struggles, raising funds, and 
dancing together. Everywhere, fest-noz events are being announced 
against the far right, in defense of the blockade, the Breton language, 
or schools in rural areas. There are initiatives against sexism within 
this scene itself, given that, like other music scenes, 30% of the 
posters listed on Tamm-Kreiz do not feature any women on stage. 
Initiatives are then being created to encourage gender-neutral dances 
and an all-female lineup.

The world of fest-noz and balls can be intimidating, but it's up to us 
to take ownership of it locally to keep the dances of our countries 
alive, because as Emma Goldman said: "If I can't dance in it, I don't 
want your revolution."

Louison (UCL Kreiz Breizh supporter)

Validate

[1]The French section of the Workers' International, founded in 1905, 
the SFIO became the Socialist Party we know today in 1969. In 1929, it 
was a social-democratic party with a working-class and secular base in a 
region where the Catholic Church held strong political power.

[2]"Focus on fest-noz activity in 2024," Tamm-Kreiz, January 31, 2025.

https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Fest-noz-Culture-populaire-culture-de-lutte
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