Patrick Rice
The Irish Priest who became one of Latin America's most committed and loved Human Rights activists. He dedicated his life to the defence of human dignity and to the hope of a better world
'3 Feet' Dir. Giselle Geney
This charming children’s short film '3 Feet' by Colombian director Giselle Geney is an unaffected and delightful tale of the challenges and dilemmas facing children when faced with the conflict between their dreams and…
Latin Londoner #44 - Sofia Serbin de Skalon, Film Curator
World cinema specialist, writer and culture maker, Argentine born Sofia de Skalon is founder of the Argentine Film Festival London, a showcase for contemporary Argentine cinema. Through her PR agency, Sofia has promoted more than…
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…
Cuba's Real Royalty
When Charles and Camilla visited Cuba in March this year they were probably unaware that Cuba has its own royalty in the shape of popular female Cuban Rap duo “La Reyna y La Real” (“Reyna” being a popular Cuban name which is…
In the shadow of Lorca
The poems of Federico Garcia Lorca have touched and inspired people and poets worldwide. Yet his passion, defiance to oppression and his unique vision of Andalucía as a tolerant fusion of cultures makes him particularly special…
The Dose (La Dosis-2020)- thriller by Argentine director Martín Kraut
Angels of Mercy or Angels of Death? The taut psychological thriller ‘The Dose’ (2020) by Argentine first-time writer/ director Martín Kraut screened at the 35th BFI Flare London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, will, no doubt, reopen the…
Home Recipe #1: Oscar’s Mexican Pozole
In this Latino Life series, we showcase Latin home chefs who are spicing up the culinary scene here in the UK. Our first Latin home chef is Dr. Oscar Ignacio Barragán Villanueva from Mexico. He is 31 years old and is the oldest…
THE POWER OF NOW: An Interview with Cultura Profética
Cultura Profética is one of Puerto Rico's most influential bands. Formed in 1996, the group came to encapsulate what it is to be Latin Caribbean with its unique fusion of Caribbean reggae and Latin genres such as bossa nova…
The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmão (2019) Directed by Karim Aïnouz.
‘THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF EURIDICE GUSMÃO’ (2019) is a dramatic melodrama that delves into how family bonds and betrayals can affect people’s lives for years. Set in Rio de Janeiro in 1950, Eurídice, 18, and Guida, 20, are two…
'THE TRAITOR' Dir. Marco Bellocchio
An Italian/Brazilian/French co-production, 'The Traitor', a BAFTA contender this year, is a true crime drama based on the story of how Tommaso Buscetta, a prominent member of the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, decided to become…
Salsa Albums of New York's 'Golden Era'
Over the years there have been so many different types of Salsa that it is impossible to do an over-arching Top Ten Salsa albums. Here are the best of New York's Golden Era. In the following weeks we'll be bringing you…
Antonio Lizano's Jazz Eñe
To mark the end of this year's Flamenco Fetsival, Saxophonist Antonio Lizana played a variety of fascinating tracks at The Cervantes Theatre, exploring new pastures in Flamenco/Jazz fusion. The compositions of this cantaor/…
Things That Matter To...Antonio Lizana
Growing up immersed in the world of Flamenco, Cádiz-born Antonio Lizana studied Jazz in Musikene, the Advanced Music School in San Sebastián. Though submerged in jazz composition, he found that flamenco crept into every song he…
The Modern Face of Fado
With a recent sold out performance at Cadogan Hall and fans including Mick Jagger and Caetano Veloso, public demand has already booked Ana Moura's return to the Barbican in September. Latinolife talks to Portugal's new…
CLARA SOLA (2021) by Swedish/Costa Rican director Nathalie Álvarez Mesén
The film Clara Sola (2021)which will be on general release from November 18-2022, first opened at the Cannes Director’s Fortnight in July 2021 and has already received 17 wins and 20 nominations. After being in the Dare Strand at…
The Chosen Couple
Ezequiel López and Camila Alegre have wowed audiences in every country they have performed. The couple features spectacular tango choreographies that include feet being thrown up in fast flourishes and legs being wrapped around…
Esteban's Arroz Con Pollo (Chicken and Rice)
Meet the famous Colombian party meal! Arroz con pollo is a rice-based tomatoey paella with a twist. It's well balanced, colourful and cheerful.I always associate arroz con pollo with getting together with family and friends…
Cumbia Feminism?
What is Acid Coco? You surely are asking. Acid Coco is that first sip of Colombian coffee in the morning to get the day started right. Acid Coco is taking a stroll through ‘El Tayrona’ watching the sunset, making you feel in tune…
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…
As Fado Bicha – Challenging the Taboos of Portugal's Most Famous Music
Whilst the ‘Three Fs’ of fado - Fatima (the shrine), Football and Fado - which cemented the genre's association with the Salazar dictatorship, and its inherent conservatism, especially about gender issues, have put many…
Batida Lisboa (Dir. Rita Maia, Vasco Viana)
Rita Maia and Vasco Viana’s charming musical documentary takes us on a journey around the tough Lisbon ghettos and suburbs where we experience the lives of a number of Portuguese-speaking African musicians who are searching to…
OUR TIME TO SHINE
Sons and daughters of immigrants, the UK’s first-generation Spanglish-singing Latino-Brits have been busy creating in the shadows of a bustling UK urban music scene. But with music in Spanish now making the global hits, they…
Surrogate Latina #4: Despina VIolari - dancer
Cyprus-born dancer Despina had been accumulating admirers on the Salsa scene for several years before getting to show off her grace and talent on the West End stage as part of the dance ensemble of 'On Your Feet'. She…
Tropical Mince Pies
These Tropical Mince Pies are guaranteed to impress your guests as you proudly tell them that they use pure Latin flavours. No apples or raisins in these! Mango replaces the apple and an assortment of dried tropical fruit…
10 Love Songs to play your Valentine
To be honest, we could make a hundred lists of Latino love songs, indeed we have, so this year we decided to put it out to the public. Here is what we got for the Valentine's Playlist 2023!
Paco de Lucia
Paco de Lucía: (Francisco Sánchez Gomez), guitarist and composer, born 21 December 1947; died 25 February 2014
Lucuma smoothie
Lúcuma is an amazing Superfood from Peru, it’s full of potassium with bright yellow coloured flesh and tastes a bit like maple syrup! So much so that it’s often used as a natural sweetener… Lúcuma has a very low Glycemic index,…
MORAES MOREIRA - Brazilian Musician (1947-2020)
Antonio Carlos Moraes Moreira, the Bahian singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer known to his many fans as ‘o eterno novo baiano’ (the eternal new Bahian), passed away following a heart attack on 13th April at 72 years of age.
London’s Best Latin Restaurants
If your looking for tips on eating Latin in London from those who know the food best, then you could do worse than ask a LUKAS restaurant judge. Being the only Awards to send native experts to judge their own cuisine, you can…
VEGANUARY: Omar's Mushroom, Jerusalem Artichoke and Chesnut paella
We've resurrected Omar's Autumn Paella, for Veganuary, which mixes mushroom, Jerusalem artichokes and chesnuts and is a perfect vegan winter dish. A true Brit-Spanish fusion dish as Omar discovered Jerusalem artichokes…
Brazil: Independence Celebrations Mark a Day of Divisions, over Unity
Clorrie Yeomens reflects on the trauma and mixed feelings that Brazilian Independence Day conjures up for many Brazilians
Latin Londoner #48 - Gustavo Nenao, street artist
Gustavo Bordin (akak Gustavo Nenao) is a Brazilian street artist who has developed works in three continents and 42 countries and was the only Brazilian to join the selected group of artists chosen by the former U.S. first lady…
Marlon’s Lechona
Colombians love pork, and this stuffed pork, presented with a whole head attached, is the ultimate party feature served for Christmas, birthdays and any special occasion. It’s filled with pigeon peas and cooked rice (deliciously…
Birdsong in Quechua
Considered one of the most important indigenous singers to emerge out of South America over the last 50 years, through her 25 albums Luzmila Carpio has inspired millions while singing in both her native Aymara-Quechua language…