The following article refers to the history of giants in Norway, specifically those living in Sedestal, and particularly Bjørgulv Eivindsson Uppstad, known to be an amazing fighter and athlete who would carry horses on his back at the local market. The author recalls all the story told to him as a child about these amazing and mighty Norwegian giants in the valley. The article also explains that those giants would get into fights from an early age, and spent a lot of time in jail for it, so people may not see them as a reference (“toxic masculinity”?). Yet, author says it is part of our history we should be proud of. He continues explaining some giants emigrated to Canada and America (so you now understand better where some of our American hybrids come from). The author is proposing that the giant history of the area be turned into a tourist attraction to bring an economic boost to the region.
In 2016, it had been 150 years since the great giant Bjørgulv Eivindsson Uppstad (1789-1866) had died. In many ways, he now experiences a newfound celebrity life, now so long afterwards.
In a recently published book about sports in Agder, he is seen as one of the forerunners of modern sports. Maybe today he would be a boxing champion, or a champion in some form of martial arts. Soon, an entire TV program would be about "the giants in Setesdal", where Bjørgulv was the most known.
When Rune Andersen, Trond Moi and Margit Dale were to make a book about food and culture in Setesdal, they decided to place a full-page picture of Bjørgulv Myhola in one of the first pages. It is hardly coincidental, as the narrator is the grandson of Bjørgulv, the giant and personality of the valley.
Bjørgulv Uppstad married Sigrid, the daughter of Olav Tveiten, whose farm is still standing in Tveitetunet. Knut Bjørgulvson (1831-1895) was the most famous of the sons. In the book "Kjempa for Norge (og andre setesdøler)" there is a collection of several stories about both Knut and his father Bjørgulv Uppstad.
There is no picture of Bjørgulv Uppstad, but he is depicted on postcards, then referred to as "Setesdal giant Knut Bjørgulvson".
Eivind was the eldest of the Uppstad sons. He moved to Øyestad near Arendal. Svein ran the farm Myhola after a turbulent childhood involving a lot of fighting, which gave him several nights on bread and water. Youngest Tarjei moved to Canada in his old age. He is the ancestor of the Haugen brothers who ran shops in Kristiansand and Søgne.
When her middle son Olav drowned in a mountain lake, Sigrid could not bear to stay in Valle. Thus, they packed all their belongings and settled at Gautestad in Evje.
The giants have in fact lived in the valley. Ever since I was a child in the 60's, I have heard stories about Setesdalskjempa. Impossible to forget. Children remember pirates, goblins, trolls and giants. The most realistic are the giants. The giants lived and could be named. Great-grandfather Bjørgulv Myhola (1872-1968) knew this. Therefore, he spent large parts of his long life telling stories about grandfather Bjørgulv and uncle Knut. He wanted to perpetuate what was ancestral oral traditions. He was not alone. On June 26, 1971, P. V (Pål Vollen) wrote in Fædrelandsvennen in connection with the fact that he wanted a memorial to Bjørgulv or his sons in the valley.
Today, a stone is on display by the museum. The memorial stone weighs 314 kg. It is probably the heaviest stone lifted by a man in Setesdal, Setesdølen once wrote. The powerhouses Samson and Torkel Ravndal tried, but did not succeed.
This is just one of the starting points for Vidar Frøysnes and me wanting, for eighteen years, to make the giants a tourist attraction in Setesdal. When we started, there was a lot of skepticism. The giant and his sons were seen as negative role models. Today we know to a greater extent that this is about valuable history that must not die out, but just as much about the valley of the giants can be the identity the village needs to give a declining society both in industry and population a real boost for the future.
For two years we have worked with the pilot project Kjempedalen , with support from Setesdal Regional Council and Bygland municipality. We believe Kjempedalen will add Setesdal new industry, more tourism and activities that can provide jobs and money to limited municipal coffers. But this assumes that the people in the valley and the municipalities are willing to invest and see opportunities where finances are often an issue.
The idea is as follows: The most important and clearest traces from Neveretten's age can be found in Setesdal. The main center for the Kjempedalen Experience Center can be anywhere in the municipalities of Evje, Bygland and Valle, but we have pointed out the museum area at Bygland as an ideal base for the center. Here, next to the road, there will be a large statue of the giant, perhaps from when he carries a horse across the square in Stavanger. The renowned sculptor Aslaug Moi Frøysnes has said she is willing to make the statue. It could be her "gift" to her home municipality Bygland. In the experience center, stories will be made visible, with assets that can be found and not least photos. In addition, information about the giants, relationships, myths and we will try to find out what made them so strong. In America, it was said that one could recognize the our giants because of their physical size. There will be an annual game in the museum area, revival of the old Bygland parliament. The Strongman award can be turned into this year's valley champion. We have been in contact with Evje municipality to proceed, or use the old prison on Evje, where several of the giants sat on water and bread.
The Gamle Gaard on Hovden and the cabin on Hovsfjellet where Bjørgulv made the outline of the big hand are also sights in Kjempedalen. The artist Olav Bjørgum's drawings have been a lot about the giants. Before Christmas, a record number of Bjørgum's pictures were sold at an exhibition in Gvarv. Unique sound recordings with Bjørgulv Myhola where he tells stories is also part of it all. All this is just a rough sketch of what we have in mind.
The experience center will be specially designed to attract families with children and foreign tourists. The success of the pirate Captain Sabertooth shows children's fascination for strength. What family of children on their way up the valley would not stop at the sight of the statue? Descendants of the giants in America are another potential audience.
"If we are to make an effort for Indre Agder, we must do it now. In a few years, it may be too late , »wrote associate professor Jon P. Knudsen in an article in Fædrelandsvennen on 5 December 2014. Knudsen shouts a special warning for Bygland, where the population has been declining for a number of years. He writes that in Bygland, in addition, the municipal economy is not well equipped to meet such a development in contrast to what is the case in Valle and Bykle, where power revenues still provide room for maneuver.
Setesdølen expresses its concern in a leading position in the newspaper on 22 November 2016. Here, reference is made to a researcher at UIA who believes that the population development in both Bygland and Valle is so poor that Setesdal can break in the middle.
Our challenge is, when the preliminary project is presented in the spring: Dare the municipality take the chance of something new, but something that still has deep traditions in the valley. Will Bygland, together with Evje, Valle and Bykle, dare to take the chance on Kjempedalen?
Statistics show that the future of Setesdal looks anything but bright. This is especially true of Bygland.
Original article: https://svein-inge-olsen.com/2017/01/03/setesdal-kjempedalen/