Sarmiento: The Forging of a Racist Ideologue (part 2)
In this second part of our article on the Argentine national hero, we travel with Sarmiento to Africa where he took notes on how the French waged war on the natives to promote white immigration and settlement. The lessons he…
El Cenote: Mexican Food Done Incredibly Well
Calling all Mexican food enthuisaists! Think deliciously fresh guacamole paired perfectly with the crunchiest nachos. Enchiladas stuffed with perfectly stringy cheese and chorizo, seasoned just-so. El Cenote brings the classic…
Odd One Out
Hailed as one of the most promising jazz musicians of her generation, Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana is somewhat of an anomoly. Amaranta Wright meets Blue Note’s latest signing and discovers an incredible journey from a…
In Search of the New Brazil
The Brazilian film 'Aquarius' received rave reviews following its World Premiere at Cannes where it was nominated for the Palme d’Or, the Cannes Jury Prize, and the Cannes Grand Prix. Just as captivating for the world’s…
Mad Women - Unapologetic and Bold
Mad Women tells the stories of three Latin American women artists who lived with Bipolar disorder. Developed out of a desire to talk about mental health and womanhood authentically and unashamedly, this play is a hard-hitting…
A READERS GUIDE TO MEXICO
To read a book from or about Mexico is to transport yourself to another time or place. Novels from some of the great writers such as Rosario Castellanos or Elena Garro or beautifully observed memoirs also clash with the harsh…
LATIN LONDONER #21.....Omar Puente - Jazz Musician
Jazz violinist and 2017 LUKAS winner, Omar Puente, has performed to audiences worldwide. First violinist at the Cuban National Symphony Orchestra before leaving Cuba in 1997, he toured with Buena Vista’s Ruben Gonzales all over…
SOCIETY OF THE SNOW (2023) - The Ultimate Survival Movie
“Reality is not enough, only dreaming”. Despite having been released recently (October 2023), this film recounting the famous crash in the Andes of a plane carrying the Uruguayan national rugby team, by Spanish director J.…
When You Pass Over My Tomb: a groundbreaking story of love after death
Style and substance come together in Daniel Goldman’s production of Sergio Blanco’s When You Pass Over My Tomb, a deeply thought-provoking exploration of “love and lust beyond the grave”.
The Magnificance of Salamanca
Is it that first stumbling across the dazzling Plaza Mayor? The towers of the cathedral against the backdrop of a perfect blue sky? The grandeur of the prestigious university, or the ever-present buzz in the streets? Whatever it…
The Salsa Group that IS Cali - an interview wth Grupo Niche
It has been said that 'Grupo Niche IS Cali and Cali IS Niche', indeed Niche is the most significant band to come out of the Colombian cIty that is known as the 'Capital of Salsa' more, and arguably out of…
Loathe the term Latino? Blame it on the French
The word ‘Latino’ may conjure up style and swagger (Latino Life, of course, equalling all things cool). But having been created as a tool in Europe’s colonial tussle for territory, is the word really cool or has Latin America…
“It is only a question of time.” The Last Days of Salvador Allende – an insider’s story
Isabel Camus worked for Chile’s nationalized copper company and was a close aide of Salvador Allende. In the days leading up to the coup in 1973, Isabel travelled to Europe to try to counteract a big legal operation mounted by…
We Love Sergio Mendes
Sergio Mendes may not have been the main originator of bossa nova - one of the most innovative musical movement of the 20th Century - he may not have been the most talented musician to come out of Brazil, but he became the most…
SUJO (2024) by creative Mexican duo Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez
With ‘SUJO,’ a cartel drama, award-winning writer/directors Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez bring a new slant to the ‘shadow of violence’ that haunts Mexico to the 2024 BFI London Film Festival.
Hustle and Grind in the Mexican Music Scene
Struggle is the name of the game in Mexican music, but the creativity and innovation keep flowing with eclectic genres and fusions blossoming from the land of the Aztecs
El Jardín: Elevated Dining with Street Food Soul
Chef Michel Gutierrez serves delicious ‘authentically inauthentic’ Latin American food at his pop-up El Jardin, expertly blending innovation with tradition.
Things That Matter to...Arya
The second profile in our series on Venezuelan Diaspora Music, we are delighted to present a true rising star; Italo-Venezuelan singer/songwriter Arya. Daughter of Orlando Watussi, a well-known Venezuelan salsa singer, Arya grew…
CAMUFLAJE (Camouflage) 2022 by Jonathan Perel
A jogger decides to run around the largest Military garrison camp in Argentina. On his travels he meets an array of people whose lives have been affected in various different ways by living close to Campo de Mayo, that had become…
Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art
Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art showcases the works of 50 international artists - 10 of whom coming from Latin America - who use textiles to embody messages of oppression and resistance, power and…
Top Ten Brazilian Things To Do This Summer
Despite it taking place over 6,000 miles away, London is gearing up for the 2016 Olympics as if we were hosting it here. What we spent on partying in the great summer of 2012 we are now preparing to shell out on summer parties…
Mexico's Ranchera-Pop Anti-Diva
Blending traditional Mexican ranchera sounds with elements of the Pop and Rock she grew up with in Tijuana, Julieta Venega first landed on the Mexican Rock scene in the nineties and has since won a Grammy, been nominated for two…
Brazil: the parallel universe of Messias Bolsonaro
The implosion of a government as the pandemic rages
EMILIA PÉREZ (2024) directed by Jacques Audiard is sweeping the boards at the festivals.
A Mexican drug cartel gangsta musical fantasy about Juan “Manitas” Del Monte, a married drug warlord and father of two, hires Rita (Zoë Saldaña) an unappreciated defence lawyer, to help him fake his death and emerge transformed…
The Cuban
A buzzing Latin venue, a perfect break whilst weekend strolling in Camden Lock
CABRINI (2024) directed by Mexican director Alejandro Monteverde
‘One small gesture of love can change everything’. How do you do credit to a biopic of a saint? This true story of the turbulent journey of Francesca Cabrini to achieve her goal of orphanages and hospitals in late 19th Century…
Just Another Lonely Latin Hit?
We’ve seen it before, the querky pop tune with a tropical feel that gets under the UK’s skin for a while. Every so often they hit this cold little island, create a Latin craze and then disappear. In the nineties we had ‘Mambo no…
Carlos' Tres Leches
It's one of Latin America’s most-loved deserts – a sponge cake made with condensed milk, evaporated milk and whole milk. I was recently working at my restaurant when I looked up to find the comedian Romish Ranganathan…
Bolivia Clasica
Making her professional debut aged eight years old, a Gold Record aged eleven, and performing at the White House aged twelve, pianist Ana-Maria Vera has remained devoted to chamber music ever since, performing across the globe…
BRAZIL: Tapajós industrial waterway -- a potential environmental disaster
In early August, the Brazilian government unexpectedly cancelled the São Luiz do Tapajós hydroelectric power station, the largest of a series of major dams planned along the Tapajós River and its tributaries. Indigenous groups…
Sara Baras @ Sadlers Wells
Challenging the traditionalists, Sara Baras synchronises music, lighting and design with dance to astonish and inspire.
GUN SHY (2017) Dir. Simon West
GUN SHY is a good natured, clever adventure caper with lots of fun and gags and Antonio Banderas as you have never seen him before!
El Chacal comes to England with a point to prove
Even among boxers, Guillermo Rigondeaux's story is pretty incredible. Once Cuba's pride and joy, the twice Olympic gold medalist and twice world champion was exiled in his own country for two years after caught trying…