The Danger of Being Underestimated: the Peruvian Double Agent who was Key to D-Day Victory
On the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when thousands of Allied troops landed on beaches across Normandy, starting the campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied northern Europe, we look at how Elvira de la Fuente Chaudoir, a little known…
Women of Toil - Maria Barea, pioneering Peruvian Director of ‘Antuca’ (1992)
Maria Barea decided to start filming the plight of young indigenous women working as domestic servants in Peru "to give them a voice." We look at the life of the pioneering Peruvian director of ‘Antuca’ (1992) and ‘…
Chakana - Michelin Standard Peruvian in London Fields
Could Chakana be London's best Peruvian restaurant? More than just another on-trend eating house in the capital, Amaranta Wright finds world class cuisine from the Inca nation in the heart of Hackney
Listening to Nature
“Our father, listen attentively to the voice of our rivers, listen to the fearsome trees of the great forest.” So wrote José María Arguedas in 1966. The poet, writer and anthropologist (1911-1969) is one of the most celebrated…
Things That Matter to…Susana Baca
Three-time Latin Grammy winner, Susana Baca is Peru’s most internationally renowned artist, who shone a light on the previously little known world of Afro-Peruvian rythmns. In 2021, she marked the 50th year of her career with the…
A Megaphone for Peru's Musical Wealth
One of Peru's most groundbreaking bands, with a trajectory of almost 40 years, PeruJazz has germinated the fusion between traditional and contemporary, folkloric and urban, the cajón and the saxophone. Drawing inspiration…
Latin Londoner #46 - Patricia Bidi, Visual Artist
Peruvian artist Patricia Bidi has been living in London for over 20 years and exhibiting her work all over the world. After working on Cecilia Vicuña's Brain Forest Quipu at the Tate Modern, Patricia explores these themes in…
Food, Femininity and Theatre: The Life of Pepa Duarte
Theatre maker, and drama teacher, Pepa Duarte, is author of the self-performed play Eating Myself. Directed by Sergio Maggiolo, the play will be showing at Peckham Fringe this 16 and 17 May and has been hailed by The Guardian as…
Breaking Convention in Peru
From the barrios of Lima, 12 dancers arrive in London next week to perform an exciting work with Latin and hip hop influences at Sadlers Wells' 19th Breakin' Convention. We talk to D1 Dance Company founder Vania Masias…
'The Latin American Cookbook' by Virgilio Martinez
Danica Katich delves into a masterpiece of research, commitment to food and ode to cooking and sharing by one of Peru’s most magnificent chefs
Susana Baca's Fantasy Island Tracks
If you were stranded on a desert island, which tracks would you absolutely need to get you through those times of despair? Our castaway this month is Susana Baca, the greatest international exponent of Afro-Peruvian music, having…
"I couldn't have made this film if I wasn't Latino"
In the 1950s, when the Democratic Republic of the Congo was a Belgian colony, a generation of Congolese musicians fused traditional African rhythms with Afro-Cuban music to create the electrifying beat of Congolese rumba - a beat…
Latin America Criminalises Mining Protest
All over Latin America mining protest is being criminalised by government legislation. Protestors in Andalgalá, Argentina are arrested and beaten, while in Brazil the Munduruku are fighting Anglo American, financed by US…
Latin Londoner #40: Monica Feria-Tinta, Barrister
Originally from Peru, Monica is the first Latin American barrister to practise at the Bar of England & Wales. She holds an LLM in International Law (LSE) and was awarded the prestigious Diploma of the Hague Academy of…
Top 10 Latin American Sportswomen
Forget Guillermo Vilas, Gustavo Kuerten or Juan Martin del Potro, did you know that Latin America’s most successful tennis player - World No. 1,19 Grand Slam titles, including three Wimbledon singles crowns - was a woman? And yet…
'Mujer de Soldado' Dir. Patricia Wiesse Risso
In the sleepy Andean town of Manta in Peru’s Huancavelica province, the wounds of the internal civil conflict between the Shining Path, the paramilitaries and the armed forces continue to bleed. Mujer de Soldado is a documentary…
Soldier's Woman
In an exclusive interview for Latino Life, Clorrie Yeomans talks to filmmaker Patricia Wiesse Risso about her new documentary 'Mujer de Soldado' (Soldier’s Woman) which serves to break the silence surrounding the human…
Latin Londoner #34: Gisella Stapleton, Artist
The unique artworks of vibrant colours, inspired by folklore and culture, with social undertones, are quickly earning a name for Peruvian artist Gisella Stapleton. Gisella’s work combines realism and abstract art, mixing figure…
The Queen of Quechua Pop Grows Up
Back in 2018, Renata Flores Rivera burst onto the international music map with her cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ in Quechua, the indigenous language of the Incas. The video received almost two million…
Great Latin American films from 2021
2021 was a difficult year for film, especially cinema releases. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 2021 Academy Awards event took place in April 2021, at the usual event venue, the spectacular Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los…
Black Heroines of Latin American History
Being an female activist meant putting your life at risk, being a black female activist was a probable death sentence, yet these courageous women took that risk, and gave their lives in some cases, in order to shape our history.…
Indigenous Heroes and Heroines of Colonial Latin America
In celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day, a day which began as a counter-celebration to el Dia de la Raza or 'Columbus Day' (still shamefully celebrated in Spain and the US to celebrate the colonisation and…
Things You Should Know about...Jazz Greats of Latin America
Recently we produced a list of Latin Jazz greats, but many of the finest Jazz musicians from Latin America use neither la clave, nor the ostinato patterns nor the afro-cuban rythmns that we associate with Latin Jazz. The…
Top 10 Revolutionary Latinas
We pay tribute to the Latin American women who throughout history have fought for freedom, peace and justice and continue to do say every day. Women who have fought side by side with men for freedom for their countries, even when…
Susana Baca
Susana Baca is the greatest international exponent of Afro-Peruvian music, having contributed so much to its worldwide popularity. Known around the globe for her barefoot performances, flowing shawls and divine aura, Baca’s music…
Latin American Tennis Greats
Dominated by a superb tennis tradition, at any given time there will be more Argentine tennis players in the top 100 than British, American and most other European countries. Other countries, like Chile, Brazil and Ecuador have…
Machu Picchu: So Near Yet So Far (Final Part)
In the final episode of our traveller stranded in Peru because of COVID 19, the Repatriation Flight arrives to the rescue, amidst mixed feelings about leaving the magical Sacred Valley and the three women she has shared the last…
Machu Picchu: So Near Yet So Far (part 2)
We're waiting for the drama of the UK repatriation plane to unfold, life goes on here in Yucay.
Machu Picchu: So Near Yet So Far (part 1)
Apparently, the top chosen place to be when the end is nigh is the sacred site of Machu Picchu. Well here I am, having arrived at one of the last places on my bucket list, just a stone's throw away, when Armageddon happens…
Dance to live: “The Dancer Thieves” Dir by Anglo-Peruvian director Lali Houghton
Anglo-Peruvian film director Lali Houghton’s film “The Dancer Thieves”- explores the healing qualities of dance on a group of prisoners in Burkina Faso.
Peru Pop
Ella Windsor reports on a vibrant new resort wear brand from Peru, specialising in culottes, kimonos and beach dresses. All printed with vibrant symbols of Peru and other places from the travels of brand owner Camille Defago,…
TIDES (2017) Unwinding down winding canals
Shot in mesmerizing Black & White against a backdrop of Surrey’s serene canals, a group of forty something friends who have not seen each other for a while, decide to spend a weekend on a narrow boat to rekindle their…
Martin's Causa Santa Rosa
Causa is a Peruvian classic style of dish meaning ‘the cause’. It originates from the wives of Peruvian soldiers who made a wonderful salad style dish from cold potatoes and various fillings including seafood and avocado. This is…
Afro-Peruvian Artists
The influence from Africa is felt in many corners of Latin America and in Peru its light shines brightly through its incredible food, art and above all, its music. It is woven into the texture of Peruvian society and features…
Watermelon & Tuna Ceviche
It’s September which means its officially the end of Summer….. boooooo! All the sad face emojis. I can’t let summer escape me with out making one last dish to celebrate the warmer seasons and that is my favourite new ceviche…