After a 12 year absence the Latin American Festival, Carnaval del Pueblo, returned to Burgess Park last month.
The long break was due to cuts in funding in 2011 and the closure of the park for refurbishment, but because of £10,000 from Southwark Council as well as crowd-funding, organisers were able to put the event on again.
Despite a long-history in Southwark, with such a long absence there was no telling how the day would go. But if the huge crowds and queues outside the gates all day long on Sunday, August 21, were anything to go by, it would appear as if no time had passed at all.
Nuala Riddell-Morales, Director of Carnaval del Pueblo (CDP), was overjoyed with the outcome. “Carnaval del Pueblo 2022 was, honestly, like living a dream come true. I had dreamed of that moment as the park filled up beautifully, for years.”
Someone who was especially moved by the turn-out was Adela Valencia, who has literally grown up with Carnaval del Pueblo. Originally from Buenaventura in Colombia, she remembers going to the Latin-American school as a child, set up by Nuala as a Saturday school in Clapham for Latin-American migrants to learn about their culture. “I went to my first Carnaval when I was eight years old. So this time, when I saw the crowds, it brought tears to my eyes!
“I’m just so excited that it’s back. It means so much to me!”
Highlights from the day included the Salsa Fusión tent where festival-goers of all ages were given salsa and bachata classes, and performances from a wide range of acts from all over Latin America, such as Johnny Rodriguez and Kausary – a family band from Peru who specialise in music from the Andean highlands.
[Interview with Johnny Rodriguez and Kausary]
The stunning backdrop of graffiti framed the festival, painted throughout the day by world-renowned El Salvadorian graffiti artist, Abraham Osorio.
By the time headliner Mauricio Cachana (ex-vocalist of popular Colombian band, Grupo Niche and Guayacán Orquesta) came out as the last act of the day, the new grass in Burgess Park was no longer visible as floods of fans eagerly awaited his performance.
“We had a full house!” says CDP volunteer and proud Bolivian, Yoshida Beltran.
“Our main goal was to make this event free, full of energy, with authentic food from our homeland, where all the family could enjoy together – and that’s exactly what we did!”
Since the success of the festival, the organisation already have other projects on the go – including organising their part in the London New Years’ Day Parade, for which they are the official Latin American partner.
To stay up to date on what Carnaval del Pueblo is up to next, follow them on their social media.
Twitter: @CarnavaldelPue1
Instagram: @carnavaldelpueblo
Facebook: ‘Carnaval Del Pueblo Association’