A singer faced heckling during the festivities in Orba, a town in the Marina Alta region, for including several songs in Valencian during her performance. This incident led to a strong response from the local council, which condemned the behavior as incompatible with the municipality's values of coexistence, respect, and tolerance.
The municipal government expressed deep regret over these actions, emphasizing that festivals should be spaces for gathering and enjoyment, not for questioning an artist based on the language they choose to perform in. The City Council reiterated that Valencian is the town's native language and an integral part of its cultural heritage, deserving the same respect as any other language.
Following the incident, the municipal corporation reaffirmed its commitment to defending and promoting Valencian, as well as linguistic and cultural diversity. A call for civility and mutual respect was made to prevent similar situations from recurring, aiming for the Orba festivities to remain an example of inclusion and welcome for everyone.
The popular festivities in Orba, held between July 24th and August 1st, include traditional events, bullfights, pilota games, concerts, and other musical performances. The incident served as a reminder from the City Council about the boundaries that should not be crossed during a collective celebration.
