
The Resurrection of Fania
Everyone knows the legendary tunes that came out of Fania. Like all empires, Fania’s went into decline after the 1990s. For many years the catalogue of iconic albums that sold millions, made superstars of Latin artists such as…
THE FANIA GENERATION
Jose Luis reflects on the importance of Fania, the iconic 1970s New York record label that created the Salsa brand, and the identity it forged for Latinos all over the world. It left not only a musical legacy but had a…
Top Ten Mexican Movies Ever
With the recent plethora of Mexican actors, directors and other creatives having invaded Hollywood and producing some of America's biggest grossing blockbusters it's easy to forgot that Mexico has long been a creator of…
Bilbao Berria
An exceptional Spanish eating experience that marries the traditional with the modern in a way that is unique.
JORGE SPITERI: The Father of Latin Funk
Signed to major record labels in the 1970s, Jorge Spiteri is considered by many to be the pioneer of Latin music in the UK. In Latin America, he is known as the godfather of Latin Funk, influencing a generation of bands, such as…
Seeing Latin America
Passionate about promoting Latin American Art, independent art advisor and curator Sandra Higgins opened her own gallery to do it. Latinolife went to talk to a woman on a mission.
It Takes Three to Tango
Plaza Francia is changing perceptions in the tango world. Consisting of ex-Gotan Project’s Christoph Müller and Eduardo Kakaroff and solo singer Catherine Ringer, the Paris-based group is propelling tango music into mainstream…
Street Art of Latin America
Throughout Latin America street art has been a fundamental form of both personal and socio-political expression for many years. From radical propaganda to light humour, Latin America’s abundance of eclectic street art is…
Top Ten Most Common Misconceptions about Latin America
Good dancers? Latin Lovers? Revolutionary guerrillas? You might have watched too many soap-operas or just followed rumours but if you want to check your prejudices about Latin America and the Latinos, here are 10 common…
Comedor Bar & Grill
Argentine, but not as you thought...winner of The LUKAS Fusion Restaurant of the Year 2015
Storm in the Andes (2014) Dir. Mikael Wiström
This year's London leg of the International Human Rights Watch Festival include a compelling selection of Latin American films. Of the many harrowing conflicts besetting Latin America in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, that of Peru…
Top Ten Mexican Rock Bands
Mexican rock and pop has produced some of Latin America's most succesful bands. Whether British and US influenced bands or the indigenous groups creating innovative music styles and of the 'Rock en tu idioma'…
Latin America's most Influential Feminists
There are many magnificent female figures around the world who have fought for equality and justice, not just for fellow women, but for all those who are deprived of basic human rights. He we salute ten Latinas who have defied…
Standing Ovation for an Argentine
Santiago Peluffo reports on this week’s emotional standing ovation for Argentina's Jonás Gutierrez at Newcastle Football Club and interviews the player and his parents on his the recovery from testicular cancer.
....Best Mexican Albums of 2014/15
Some of the Latin America's best music is produced in Mexico. Here is Latino Life's top ten selection of best Mexican Albums of the Last year
London Londoner #15...Graciela Sanchez
Born in Mexico City, a slight and pretty 17-year-old joined the Ballet Folklorico. Fifty years on Graciela is one London’s outstanding Latin citizens, and her LUKAS award-winning cultural consultancy Mexicolore, that she runs…
Wild Tales (2014) Damian Szifron
A box office and critical hit, both in Latin America and outside, this anthology of short stories linked by themes of rage and restraint in post-modern living, is Argentina's most recent example in a long tradition of…
Colour Conscience
Carlos Jacanamijoy is a Colombian artist from the town of Santiago, Putumayo. A well known figure in contemporary Colombian art, at 50-years of age, he has just exhibited his first ever show in London at The Sandra Higgins Art…
Futuro Beach (2014) Dir. Karim Aïnouz
Shot in 2012 in Brazil and Germany, Futuro Beach touches on the themes of expatriation, nostalgia and family links. Its contemplative tone offers an impactful and realistic sense of time passing by. Futuro Beach is now out on DVD.
Primal Screaming - an interview with Damián Szifrón
Not only do the Mexicans seem to be holding a curious monopoly over Oscars in recent years, hardly a year passes when an Argentine film is not in the running for Best Film in a Foreign Language. This year it was the turn of…
LatinoLife's Favourite Mexican Male Singers of all Time
Since the days when Mexico was a serious rival to Hollywood in terms of film production and quality, The US’s closest Latin neighbour has been producing most of the biggest selling singers of Latin America. Their imagery of the…
London's Mexican Love-in
Forget the Mexican moment, London is having an officially sanctioned Mexican love-in with British and Mexican governments having de- clared 2015 the year of Mexico in the UK and the UK in Mexico. Whether it’s the ‘New Mexican…
Should we Boycott Narcocorridos?
Sarah Quarmby delves into the gory culture that surrounds increasingly popular Mexican drug ballads.
An interview with Quimantu
Sarah Quarmby talks Latin rhythms, left-wing politics and educational duties with Mauricio Venegas-Astorga and Rachel Pantin from Quimantu. Photo credit: Harriet Armstrong
Raíz - Lila Downs, Niña Pastori, Soledad
An ambitious collaborative project from Mexican-American folk singer/songwriter Lila Downs, Latin GRAMMY-nominated Argentine folk/pop singer Soledad and Latin GRAMMY-winning Spanish flamenco singer Niña Pastori.
Convoque Seu Buda Criolo (Sterns)
The Latest album form the increasingly respected Brazilian rapper and soul singer.
Who'll be the UK's Favourite Sports Personality?
As English fans vote for its favourite Latin and Spanish footballers in the UK, for those who live for other things than footballers, here is our guide to the LUKAS nominees for theis year's Sports Personslity of the Year
De Camino Pa La Cima J Alvarez (Reloaded 2.0)
A compilation of his latest releases plus future hits.
Trovador Extraordinaire
In an era where bland music and meaningless lyrics pollute the airwaves, singer-songwriters such as Pablo Milanes, the legendary Cuban icon and one of the founders of Nueva Trova, are revered more than ever. His songs about the…
Tamsin on the Verge
The Playhouse Theatre is now hosting a boisterous adaptation of Almodóvar's film: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Complete with its own musical score, this impression of Madrid in the 1980s becomes surprisingly…
Roberto Gómez Bolaños, Comedian (1929-2014)
Estimated by Forbes magazine to have produced billions for Mexico's main television station Televisa, Roberto Gómez Bolaños aka Chespirito (a parody of his namesake Shakespeare) was one of Latin America's most loved…
Pascuala Ilabaca @ Rich Mix
Accordion-wielding Chilean songstress Pascuala Ilabaca wows and woos her East London Audience. By Sarah Quarmby
Top Ten Classic Latin American Films
The iconic films that have often launched the careers of Latin America's top directors, who later became global household names, here is our selection of Latin American cinema classics.