www.ninnau.com

By Mona Everett

Previously printed in Ninnau

Llandysul is a market town in the Welsh county of Ceredigion (Cardiganshire), West Wales, and the hometown of writer/singer Dr. Fflur Dafydd, who delighted her various audiences at the Chicago NAFOW with spontaneous shouts of, West is best! as she entertained and educated with her singing and lectures.

A professor at the University of Wales, Swansea, Dr. Dafydd presented seminars on two topics, based on books she has written. Twenty Thousand Saints, began as a translation of her award-winning book, Atynaid, but, as she explained, soon took on its own storyline when the English did not seem to convey the same tone. Atynaid, is a semi-autobiographical account of her 2002 stay as a writer-in-residence on Bardsey Island, off the west coast of North Wales. While, Twenty Thousand Saints is set on Bardsey Island, and one of the characters is a poet-in-residence, Dr. Dafydd assured us that the book is no longer autobiographical and she switched things up a bit, even adding a main character.

As the story opens, we learn that the island is woefully short on men and the all-female film crew that is making a documentary on the island, is eagerly awaiting the imminent arrival of the boat which is promising to drop off a male writer. In the meantime, the women have found diversion working with Deian, an archeologist who enlists their aid under false pretenses. The island is also home to Viv, a former nun-turned-hermit, who has the disagreeable task of hosting the annual hermit convention on her island. Yes, Dr. Dafydd writes with a lot of humor, but youll have to pick up the book to see what unfolds when the boat delivers a female poet-in-residence.

After giving her audience a taste of the storyline, Dr. Dafydd answered questions about living on the island. Although there are only about six full-time residents, the island can swell with tourists when the weather is good. It is a favorite locale for creative types to get away and seek inspiration or find peace and quiet to work on their projects. The islands inhabitants are at the mercy of the sea, though, and can be cut off from the mainland for days at a time, if the boat cant make the crossing.

Welsh Icons

What makes an icon? In an effort to go inside Welsh icons and separate out the hype and stereotype, Gomer Press has published several small books by various authors who know Wales inside and out. Welsh Icons, by Dr. Fflur Dafydd, is one of the series, and in her lecture she provided behind-the-scenes glimpses into several well-known icons and how they became icons and how the Welsh people are changing the meanings.

In an effort to debunk stereotypes, Gomer gave her a list of items generally associated with Wales, from harps to sheep for her consideration. Sadly, the piece on sheep was left out of the book, even though Dr. Dafydd says it was one of her favorites.

Cardiff

During her lecture, she was able to discuss only some of the topics, beginning with Cardiff, the Welsh capital. A modern city, Cardiff retains its historic climate with the castle and older architecture. The radical transformation of the citys decaying docks in the 1980s, into Cardiff Bay with the Senedd Building and the Millennium Centre, projects a modern European image. These transparent buildings, lighted from within at night, reflect on the water, and seem to say, Were more a part of Europe now, not a rural backwoods. The Millennium Centre, completed in 2004 is striving to reach iconic status worldwide, as a center for performing arts, while showcasing the bilingual reality of Wales. Nothing is easy, though, and there are some who dont think enough Welsh events are being held at the Centre.

A recent linguistic shift, due to migrants from rural areas moving into the city, has produced 20,000 Welsh speakers in Cardiff. Due to this influx and widespread Welsh-language education, more Welsh events are being held in Cardiff, and musicians have access to more venues. Even the daily Western Mail has more Welsh content. Television station S4C features a popular drama, Caerdydd, in its fifth series now, which draws on current events in Cardiff, and because it is subtitled, has fans among both Welsh- and English-speaking city-dwellers

Eisteddfod

The Welsh seem to have a push-pull relationship with many iconsunwilling to remain stagnant, there is nevertheless, volatile discussion over seemingly minor changes. But changes are generally embraced eventually . Even the National Eisteddfod, which was held in Cardiff for the first time in 30 years this summer, is not immune to controversy. When the traditional green and gold pavilion gave way a couple of years ago to a big pink tent, rumblings were heard far and wide; when alcohol was first allowed on the field, many thought it would be the end of the world as they knew it. What has actually happened is acceptance--festival goers can now have a genteel brew while discussing the winning and losing entries, and the pink tent is well on its way to becoming a genuine icon in its own right.

The Gorsedd of the Beirdd, often viewed as odd assortment of druids in sheets by those outside of Wales, are certainly iconic representations of cultural identity. Dr. Dafydd recounted her own experience donning the bardic robes for the first time. As a young woman, she was definitely in the minority, but even that aspect of the pomp is changing and that fact alone bodes well for the continuation of the Eisteddfod tradition.

The Welsh take their Eisteddfod seriously. While attendance on the maes is sometimes called a week away from real life, debating the merits of the winning entry will continue throughout Wales, until the rumors of the next years winner begin to surface.

Language

The Welsh language is fast becoming an urban language and is continuously evolving. English-speaking parents are sending their children to Welsh medium schools, so they can get aheada 360-degree turnaround from earlier days when Welsh was seen as the language of the lower classes and a stumbling block to success.

Dr. Dafydds parents and many of their friends were active in the Welsh Language Society while she was growing up.

Protests over English-only signage and other slights often resulted in arrests. Now that Wales is becoming more and more bilingual, the targets of protest are not as obvious as taking down a sign or painting over something. Dr. Dafydd reported protests are more subtle but still on-going. While much progress has been made, they are not yet where they want to be.

Music

Wales, of course, is known as the Land of Song, with the harp as its national instrument. From earliest Celtic harps, musicians moved to the triple harp and double-action harp, continuing to produce traditional sounds. Today, there has been a shift in harp music. Artists, such as Catrin Finch, have introduced the electric harp, producing a street-wise, avant garde sound, bringing the harp to the urban youth scene. Rebelling against stereotype, but keeping the iconic instrument, harpists are experimenting with pop, rock, hip-hop, jazz, rap and punk.

However, most current singers grew up with the Welsh chapel experience--another icon--and learned to sing there and this still comes through in their music. The hymns of the Welsh religious revival are brought alive for the 21st century by vocalist Lleuwen Steffan, with Huw Warren and Mark Lockheart on piano and saxophone, on their CD, Duw A Wyr (God Only Knows). The familiar Methodist hymns are updated, but still treated with reference.

In a country where more people are still mono-lingual English- speakers, artists continue to sacrifice for the Welsh language.

Folk singer Meic Stevens turned down lucrative offers which would have had him singing only in English and playwright Saunders Lewis, also chose Welsh over English. Others, like protest singer Dafydd Iwan, drove their message home in their native tongue.

Dragon

The Welsh dragon signifies the solidarity of the nation. Wales is the only country with same flag in 2001 as in 1001. Welsh businesses daring to fly a Union Jack in place of the Welsh flag are likely to discover their banner missing. Today, the Red Dragon is a highly recognizable branding image. The draig goch motif can be seen everywhere. Its on clothing, jewelry and even beer bottles.

With Welsh Icons, Gomer Press has succeeded in its attempt to peer out and let the reader peer in. With short, 2-to 4-page chapters on each topic, the reader is provided with an easy-to-read, generously-illustrated romp through modern Wales. Other icons discussed include actors and actresses; coal mines; rugby; Llanfair PG; mountains; and St. David. Personally, Id still like to read what Dr. Dafydd had to say about sheep.

Oh, yeah, West is best!