Pernando Amezketarra

Fernando Bengoetxea Altuna (1764–1823), commonly known as Pernando Amezketarra or—not so often—Fernando Amezketarra,^[1] was a bertsolari and humorist in the Basque region of Spain.

He was born in the village of Amezketa (Gipuzkoa), specifically in the farm named Espizaltxe, on October 10, 1764.^[2] Since he was a child he was known for his wit. He became an indispensable character in every celebration. He worked as a shepherd, as most people in his village in those days. He married Maria Joxepa Sagastume, and they had 9 children, while they lived in Ixpille and Azentzin Txikia farms where he died.

He was honoured in many occasions.^[3] His anecdotes were collected and published by Gregorio de Mújica under the title of Pernando Amezketarra, a successful book many times reissued.

In the 1990s, ETB 1 broadcast a TV serial about this character.^[4]