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Pacific Tumbao
In the vibrant world of Colombian salsa music, few names resonate as powerfully as Jimmy Saa. Known for his electrifying performances, soulful voice and bringing the rich sounds of his native Buenaventura into a unique brand of…
Our Latin Thing: An interview with Roberto Pla
Whether as percussionist of choice for the UK’s pop bands (Joe Strummer, The Cure, Kate Bush, Boney M) or bandleader, composer and arranger, timbalero extraordinaire, Roberto Pla, has come to be known as The Godfather of Latin…
Things You Should Know About...Latin American Political Cinema
The plethora of social documentaries and politically-committed films that came out of Latin America between the mid-1950s and mid-1970s brought Latin American film onto the focus of world critics. Of course, to reduce the region…
Surrogate Latino #3 Kishon Khan - bandleader
For years, Kishon Khan’s Lokkhi Terra has been blending the musical traditions that surround the band members; from Sufi Samba to Baul Blues to Bengali Folk-Son to Bangla Roots Reggae to London Descargas. Their 6th album ‘…
Tótem (2023) by Mexican writer/director Lila Avilés
“I wish Daddy did not have to die”. Lila Avilés’ delightful second feature deals with mortality and love at an intensely human level in this gem of a movie.
Pao Pestana
Pao Pestana’s feisty cocktail of seductive beats and gritty sensuality packs a contagious punch. The Venezuelan-born, London-based singer-songwriter and Producer self-released ‘Quiero Verte’ in October, attracting the attention…
Latin Londoner #35: Adriana Cavita, Chef and Food Entrepreneur
Adriana Cavita, the prodigious Mexican chef who previously worked at El Bulli and Pujol, is bringing the authentic flavours of Mexico to London at her debut restaurant, Cavita.
LatinoLife 22 Confirms its Place as 'the UK's Most Inclusive Festival'
The only UK festival to be chosen for 'The Inclusive Festival Guide' compiled by European research project Fest Space, LatinoLife's 7th edition delivered the UK's biggest Latin music Festival. London’s only…
"Transforming one body into another’"
Flamenco's experimental bailaor extraordinaire, Israel Galván, will be mesmerising audiences at Sadler’s Wells for two nights on November 25 and 26th with his original interpretation of ‘The Rite of Spring’ by Igor…
Memories of a Burning Body (2024) by Costa Rican director Antonella Sudasassi Furniss
The Costa Rican submission to the 97th Academy Awards for ‘Best International Feature’ is Antonella Sudasassi Furniss’s moving fictional documentary ‘Memories of a Burning Body’, which will be screened at the BFI London Film…
We Love 'El Tosco'
Amaranta Wright ventures down memory lane and to Miami in the 90s when she first heard the late great José Luis Cortés aka El Tosco, “the Rough One” and his NG La Banda, one of the greatest ever Cuban bands. The accomplished…
Ayahuasca, Colonialist Mysticism and Exploitation of Indigenous People
A Review of 'The Cull of Personality - Ayahuasca, Colonialism, and the Death of a Healer' by Kevin Tucker
How Latinos in the UK Can Show Support for Black Lives Matter
A young Afro Latina from the US is inspired by a show of UK solidarity for Black Lives Matter in Brixton and suggests ways Latinos in the UK can help
CUÑADOS (2021) by Toño López
Screened at the 2021 London Spanish Film Festival, ‘CUÑADOS’ (Brothers- in- Law 2021) is a delightful caper in the local language by Galician director Toño López and a great tonic for a cold autumn evening. Eduardo and his…
Marcos Valle'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 Marcos Valle, one of the most important and popular artists in the history of…
'Yo amanecí' Andres Landero (Vampisoul)
A fantastic compilation of Colombia's King of Cumbia
A Timeline of Greatness - Musical Anniversaries to Celebrate in 2024
Here at LatinoLife, whilst nurturing up-and-coming artists, we never forget on whose should we stand and who we have to thank for the rich tapestry of sounds that we’ve inherited. This year in particular we look forward to some…
The People's Art
Led by the charismatic Anglo-Argentine artist Patricio (Pato) Forrester, a new School of Muralism is being created in the borough of Lewisham with the active participation of Goldsmith’s College, plus the support of the local…
“The Horror Seeps Through the Cracks”
Set during the harshest period of the Pinochet Dictatorship, ‘1976’ (2022) is an intelligent and moving study of a well-to-do housewife, Carmen, who, after being asked to care for a wounded activist, finds her life changing and…
Imperio Bamba: 'Mis Cosas Favoritas' Review
London-based Imperio Bamba's sound mixes cumbia, chicha and afro with psychedelic synths and screaming guitars. Arden Farrow reviews their EP 'Mis Cosas Favoritas' which includes the single 'Los Amantes'…
She Who Demands the Stage
Diva is the Latin word for goddess and Cuban-Spanish singer, Lucy Calcines, became just that when her performance on The Voice UK in 2020 raised the studio to its feet, got four judges turning and became the most streamed…
SEX WORKERS' OPERA
With a cast made up of workers in the sex industry and actors (its not clear whom is which to preserve anonymity) this unique multimedia production written by British-Uruguyan singer and composer Alex Etchart, offers a brutally…
World Cup Profile: Mexico Look to End 24-Year Curse
In the third of our profiles on the Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese teams who have qualified for this year’s World Cup finals, Lewis Blakeman looks at World Cup regulars Mexico and their chances of putting an end to the 24…
ALL IS VANITY Dir. Marcos Mereles
A story within a story within…who bit the apple first? A moody, acerbic photographer (Sid Phoenix) and his intern assistant (Yaseen Aroussi), the blasé make- up artist (Rosie Steel) and the laconic model (Isabelle Bonfrer) meet…
MY HEART GOES BOOM! Dir. Nacho Álvarez
Following the popularity of new musicals like ‘La la Land’(2016), or even Pablo Larrain’s hypnotic ‘Ema’ (2019), Uruguayan debut director Nacho Álvarez has launched into features with an ambitious, funny and cheerful musical…
Latin Music 2.0: Meet Candela Records’ Rising Stars
Ever since reggaetón became the world’s most streamed music genre, the major music labels have been on the hunt for the Latin music stars of the future. In a brave move, one global brand decided to look to UK shores for a new and…
Renaissance Man
Doctor, poet and musician, Jorge Drexler has taken the long and winding road to global success. Winning an Oscar at 41 – the first ever for a song not sung in English – was just the beginning. Now recognised as one of the finest…
'Zama' Dir. Lucrecia Martel (Argentina)
After a debut La Ciénaga (The Swamp 2001) that shook the world of cinema and the equally successful La Niña Santa (The Holy Girl 2004) and La Mujer sin Cabeza (The Headless Woman 2008), Lucrecia Martel, one of the protagonists of…
Things we love about... Magical Mexico City
Built on the ruins of the ancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, Mexico City has mushroomed into the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world. A melting pot of all that makes Mexico great - food, drinks, art and music - and…
An inspired Cuban Production of Bizet's Carmen
Cuba's natural setting, with its own historical and cultural drama, and the plethora of high quality performing artists, singers and musicians make for a triumphant production of Bizet's Carmen.
The Hand of God – Argentina’s Peculiar Blessing and Burden
Argentines will both mourn and celebrate the death of Maradona as they haven’t since the death of Evita, for it is love-hate with him, just like Argentines with their own self-image. As with all its other famous people, the…
LATIN LONDONER #56 - Gledys Ibarra, Actor
A powerhouse of Venezuelan TV, Gledys Ibarra was the first Afro-Latina to achieve superstar status as a telenovela actor. With a career spanning continents and genres - from teenage boy pinup in South America to US fantasy in…
Caetano Veloso – 54 days during the dictatorship
Narciso em Ferias (Narcissus Off-duty) is Caetano Veloso’s personal testimony of his arrest and imprisonment in 1968 during the dictatorship in Brazil. Premiering at the Venice Biennale and shown at DocLisboa, the film follows…
Britpop's Favourite Timbalero
When Colombian timbal player Roberto Pla arrived the UK in the 1970s, the Latin music scene was practically non-existent. But the boy from Baranquilla soon became the percussionist of choice for UK pop artists such as Joe…
LATIN LONDONER #5 Katya Torres de la Rocha - Entrepreneur
Mexican born Katya Torres de la Rocha, is the CEO of www.mexgrocer.co.uk. which sells authentic Mexican food groceries and at 40 years old was voted Business Personality of the Year by both the public and the judges. Here is her…
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Film & Theatre
FILMS TO WATCH BEFORE YOU DIE #10
AMORES Perros (2000- Love’s a Bitch) Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and written by Guillermo…
Arts and Culture
Latin Londoner #69: Erika Vibez - salsa lecturer, creat…
British-Colombian Erika Vibez is a dance teacher, creative producer and community leader. In 2026…
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Forty years ago, the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City witnessed 90 minutes of football that would…
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