Colombian Bicentennary Week of Activities
19 July, 2010With the Colombian Bicentennary falling this Tuesday we are set for an exciting week of Colombian-related activities, culminating in Colombianamente and an evening of music at The Barbican on Sunday July 25th. The Colombian Embassy in London is expecting over 42,000 people to attend Colombianamente, which will be taking place at the Coin Street Festival venue on the South Bank and aims to give Londoners and Colombians living in the United Kingdom the chance to explore Colombian culture. Featured acts include Choc Quib Town, Martina Camargo and Circolombia.
Official figures currently put the amount of Colombians living permanently in the UK at 28,900 but estimates put it at a minimum of 190,000. As with many of the immigrant populations in the UK we simply don’t have any reliable figures.
On the bicentennary itself will be Colombia Fest at Vinopolis, a celebration organised by Ukolombia and featuring the legendary Los Gaitanos de San Jacinto as well as Colombian dance, food and drinks! Jonathan Giraldo, founder of UKolombia, said the commemoration marks “a celebration of 200 years of everything Colombian, but also being aware of elements that need to be addressed in the future.”
The week will finish with Fonseca playing on Saturday 24th July at Shepherd’s Bush Empire and Toto La Momposina and La Mojarra Electrica at The Barbican, followed by Choc Quib Town making an appearance on the Club Stage after the show.
In summary then; a very exciting week for anyone interested in Colombian culture. Here is the week’s activities in slightly easier-to-digest form:
Tue 20 July – Colombia Fest! at Vinopolis 6.30pm – 11.30pm
Sat 24 July – Fonseca and Gratitour at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire 7.30pm
Sun 25 July – Colombianamente at Bernie Spain Gardens, South Bank 1pm – 7pm
Sun 25 July – Toto La Momposina and La Mojarra Eléctrica at The Barbican 7.30pm
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