Jerez hosted the first day of a tribute to José Manuel Caballero Bonald on 13 November, marking the centenary of his birth (1926-2026) at the Atalaya Museums. The event was attended by the mayor of Jerez, María José García-Pelayo; the territorial delegate for Culture of the Junta de Andalucía, Millán Alegre; family members of the author, including his son Alejandro Caballero; and representatives from the Caballero Bonald Foundation and the literary community.
During her speech, García-Pelayo highlighted that Jerez has already begun commemorating the centenary with various activities leading up to this event, which will continue over the coming months. The aim is to promote and recognise the figure and legacy of one of Spain's literary greats. She expressed gratitude to all individuals, institutions, entities, and artists contributing to making this anniversary a grand celebration.
Josefa Parra, director of the Caballero Bonald Foundation, emphasised the enduring relevance of the author's work, noting that his literary dimension transcends time and continues to resonate due to the uniqueness of his writing and his contributions to contemporary literature.
The day continued with the presentation of the book Soy mi libertad y mis palabras, featuring readings of poems by José Manuel Caballero Bonald. This was part of a round table discussion coordinated by Antonio Lafarque and co-published by the University of Almería Press and the Caballero Bonald Foundation. The publication brings together fifty contributors from the fields of literature, research, teaching, criticism, and journalism, each selecting and commenting on a poem from the author’s work.
During the presentation, Lafarque explained the significance of this collective project, designed as a tribute to Caballero Bonald's poetic legacy. The fifty signatures also nod to the so-called poetic group of '50, in which the author played a crucial role. The book spans over six decades of creation, from Las adivinaciones to Desaprendizajes, offering a plural reading of his oeuvre.
The round table also featured José Manuel Benítez Ariza, José Jurado Morales, Juan José Téllez, and Alejandro Luque, who shared their chosen poems and the reasons behind their selections, adding a personal dimension to the tribute by intertwining deep knowledge of Caballero Bonald's poetry with personal experiences and memories of the writer and his friends.
The first day of the centenary celebration continued with the premiere of the documentary Fragmentos de navegante, directed by Paula Romero and produced by La Zanfoña, Santa Paciencia Films, and Fuega Cine. Following the screening, a round table discussion took place featuring Julia Caballero Ramis, the writer's daughter and president of the Caballero Bonald Foundation; poet and musicologist José Ramón Ripoll; Paula Romero, the documentary's director; and lead actor Pedro Sánchez García. This meeting allowed for the sharing of various perspectives on the author's life and biography.
The centenary programme will continue on Friday at 18:30 at the Atalaya Museums, featuring a new day of free activities until full capacity is reached. The programme includes the presentation of a double edition of Las adivinaciones (1952/2012), promoted by the Caballero Bonald Foundation, which includes documentary material; the launch of a reissued CD Jerez a Caballero Bonald, produced by the Foundation; and a musical performance by María José Santiago and Jesús Méndez (vocals), Rosario Montoya (piano), Alfredo Lagos (guitar), and Ali de la Tota and José Peña (percussion).
