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10 Distinguished Brits You Didn't Know Were Colombian
The UK hosts the world's second largest Colombian diaspora, and has born generations of talent in all fields of life. But with their very British accents, you may not even know who they are. From dancers, painters,…
Frankie Ruiz Tunes that Rock the Dancefloor
Making this list we couldn’t stop saying…. ‘this music is SO f#@•ing good!” We can truly say that Frankie Ruiz is one of our all time favourites…few vocalists can boast the level of success of "El Papá de la Salsa.” One of…
The Wonderful World of Tim Maia
Back in the 1970s the deep velvety voice of Tim Maia sparked a revolution in Brazilian mainstream culture that went well beyond music, igniting the rise of the Black Rio movement. His bassy tone, resembling that of his funk and…
Luisa Santiago, Singer-Song Writer
Luisa Santiago is a Colombian-born, London-bred singer pianist who calls on the best of both worlds: her roots in Salsa and Latin music and a love of UK Soul and R&B. Luisa’s songwriting, piano playing and sweet vocals, honed…
Quino, creator of "Mafalda" (1932 - 2020)
This week Argentina mourns a great loss. At the age of 88, Argentine cartoonist, Joaquín Salvador Lavado Tejón (more commonly known as ‘Quino’) passed away on the 30th September in Mendoza, Argentina. Creator and father of…
Latinolife's Baile Funk Playlist
With what has become known simply as Funk (or Funke as they pronounce it in Brazil). the rich tapestry of Brazilian music is nowhere more evident in the world of dance floor bangers Forget James Brown and Sly and the Family…
In Praise of The Bandeja Paisa
Latinolife’s Latina Cook basks in the glory of a full Colombian Breakfast
Mariza, Interpreter of Life
Born in Mozambique to a Portuguese father and Mozambican mother and brought up in Mouraria, one of the traditional Fado neighbourhoods of Lisbon, Mariza has become one of Portugal’s most charismatic performers and eloquent…
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…
Remembering Rafael Escalona, composer (1927 - 2009)
Rafael Escalona was one of Colombia's most important musical lyricists and composers, revolutionising Colombia's vallenato tradition, modernizing the music's rough, accordion-based sound via the addition of vividly…
OUR TIME (Dir. Carlos Reygadas)
‘Our Time’ (Nuestro Tiempo) 2018 challenges our ideas of man’s condition in life. Juan Díaz and his beautiful wife Esther run a ranch in Mexico rearing fighting bulls. They have a perfect relationship in an open marriage, or so…
Joe Arroyo Tunes That Rock the Dancefloor
One of the most important male vocalist of Colombian music, from the Caribbean coast of Colombia, Joe Arroyo was a real Titan of Salsa. He brought the flavour of Africa to the forefront in Colombian music; a showman and sonero,…
Wilfredo Lam: Painting Afro-Cubanism
The 20th century Cuban painter, Wifredo Lam, was one of the finest artists of his time. Full of Afro-Cuban mysticism, Lam's work - revolutionary, non-conformist and deeply spiritual - pays homage to Cuba's unique mixed…
The World of Spanish Belénes
Christmas - a time for glittering trees, flashing lights and endless feasts. In Spain, whilst its biggest celebration of ‘Los Reyes’ falls on the 6th of January - with crowds lining the streets and children perched on their…
The Girl Who Stole the Show
EIZA GONZALEZ REYNA in ‘Baby Driver (2017)’ won us over completely, says Latinolife film critic Corina Poore who was impressed by the rising Mexican star at the end of the summer's Pop up screens.
The Roma Gypsies of Colombia
Hazel Marsh celebrates the community that is conspicuously ignored by Latin American history books and modern day media.
Things You Should Know About...Inspiring US Afro-Latinxs
Changing the world in everything from Poetry to Baseball, from Politics to Hollywood, here, in no particular order, are just some of the US Afro-Latinos who have helped shape the American landscape and who you should definitely…
Myth or Reality, and Does it Matter?
Supposedly based on a true story about Basque farm lad, who started to grow uncontrollably to became Europe’s tallest man, reaching a height of 2,42m, Handia swept the boards at the 2018 Goya Awards, winning 10 out of their 13…
Sopa Negra
I love Sopa Negra, it’s a soup originally from Costa Rica but you see variants of it all over Latin America. It is possibly the healthiest, yummiest and easiest recipe you can make for yourself.
Bárbara Colen: Brazilian Screen Star Shines Bright.
Bárbara Colen is a rising star in Brazilian cinema. At the 2019 BFI London Film Festival, Colen starred in not one, but two of the most interesting films on offer from Brazil. Corina J Poore met up with her while she was in…
LATIN LONDONER #27 - Juanita Euka - Singer-Songwriter
Juanita Euka is a LUKAS award-winning singer-songwriter. Niece of Congolese rumba legend Franco Luambo, she grew up in Buenos Aires before arriving on UK shores. Known for her work with Wara, London Afrobeat Collective and…
La Noche (Dir. Edgardo Castro)
Corina J Poore talks to the director of Argentina’s latest film to wow global audiences, a ferociously honest film that explores the drug-fuelled debauchery of Buenos Aires’ underworld sexual, and ye whose power lies in its…
‘El Perro del Hortelano’ (The Dog in the Manger) by Lope de Vega.
Lope Félix de Vega Caprio, (aka the Phoenix of Spain- 1562-1635) was possibly the first, and maybe the finest playwright that helped launch the Golden Age, el Siglo de Oro in a Baroque Spain. A contemporary of William Shakespeare…
Top 10 Summer Latin Films
Latin Cinema is in full bloom. Here’s a glimpse at the Latin and Spanish films coming up this summer to whisk you away from the heat.
LATIN LONDONER #22 Thiago Soares - Principal Dancer
Brazilian dancer Thiago Soares, is a former Principal Dancer of The Royal Ballet. Soares was born in Rio de Janeiro and joined the Royal Ballet in 2002 after receiving many prizes, including silver medal at the 1998 Paris…
Latin Londoner #38: Nicole Castillo-Mavromatis, Dancer, Choreographer and Actor
Raised in East London Nicole Castillo-Mavromatis is a queer dancer, actor, choreographer and proud afro-Latina from Dominican Republic. Starting out as a dancer including on an international tour with artist Wizkid and on the…
Between Land and Sea - an interview with Cuban artist Armando Mariño
One of Cuba’s most well-known contemporary artists, Armando Mariño studied in Havana, now lives and works in New York and exhibits all over the world. Now in London showing his large scale works rooted within the stories of…
UK Colombian Music Artists to be Proud Of
We’re Celebrating Colombian Independence by shining a light on the amazing Colombian talent here in the UK. First off music..from salsa, vallenato and gaita to urban, hip hop and folk here are artists who have brought not only…
Jhay Cortez
Topping the charts now under his name, this 27-year-old went from being a songwriter and headlining artist for J Balvin at his Vibras Tour (2018), to then featuring with him on bangers like Medusa (also ft. Anuel AA) and No Me…
Peru 1982: A Six-month Photo Odyssey in South America
An exhibition at the Peruvian Embassy by photographer Tony Hutchings showcases the country's stunning landscapes and rich cultural diversity, captured during a six-month trip to South America.
Spotlight on...Mariah Angeliq
The talented Dominican and Puerto Rican rapper and singer has been climbing up the Latin music scene as are her songs in the charts!
Pixinguinha: The Demiurge of Brazilian Music
‘If you have 15 volumes to talk about all of Brazilian popular music, rest assured it’s too little. But if you only have the space for a word, you are saved. Write quickly: Pixinguinha.’ Though this quotation by Ary Vasconcelos,…
Salsa Hits of the 1970s
By the '70s Jerry Massucci's Fania label was exploding the New York Latin music scene and beyond. Known as the Motown of Latin music, for 20 years it was a conveyer belt of hits that took music from the Latin Carribean…
Spotlight on... Gigolo & La Exce
Ronald Rafael Tejeda Santos and Jean Carlos Ferreira Suero, artistically known as Gigolo and La Exce formed the reggaeton, trap and urban music duo from San Juan, Puerto Rico, famous for the singles such as "Nasty,"…
Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About... Gabriel Garcia Marquez
If someone has won a Nobel Prize, they’re probably worth listening to. Gabriel Garcia Marquez, one of the most beloved authors of the 20th century, has injected many pieces of wisdom into our society through his literary “hits”…
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