Bad Bunny sparks UK’s Latino moment as 100,000 fans flock to see him perform | Bad Bunny

At the Seven Sisters Latin Village in north London, construction is underway.

The market, which has become the capital of the British Latino community, has struggled the long battle against reformpays tribute to the biggest Latino star in the world: Bad Bunny (real name Benito Martínez Ocasio).

They are making a comparison of Little Housethe house on the rapper’s home island in Puerto Rico and produces an important part of the Bad Bunny episode.

The little pink house has become known to millions of people around the world who watched Ocasio’s Super Bowl halftime show, where he brought it. 128 million live listeners and given against many Trumpians on what it means to be an American.

More than 30 of his songs have been streamed over a billion times, making him one of the most listened to artists in history. All of this is performed in Spanish, something that often hinders musicians – especially in the UK.

But despite the language barrier, around 100,000 people will pack into Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium for two games next week, making them the biggest Spanish-language demonstrations in UK history.

The numbers are impressive and the UK stop on a major world tour is an event in itself, but Latino organizations and UK workers want to use the concerts to increase recognition in a country that often fails to acknowledge their presence.

In Spain, there are over 4.5 million Latin Americans, but the UK population is unknown because the census does not provide a Latino group. Estimates say around 450,000, but the actual number may be in the millions.

Colombians, Ecuadorians, Bolivians and Brazilians dominate, and about 60% of the population live in London.

Jacobo Belilty – co-ordinator of the Coalition of Latin Americas in the UK – says the rapper is interested in British Latin Americans.

Belilty, who oversees the construction of La Casita and the community’s weeklong events, said: “He’s been like a beacon. “He’s brought a new perspective to Latinos. He’s more than a pop star.”

Belilty refers to Ocasio’s political messages – which are often presented through images in his sessions – that address social problems, and that he chose not to travel to the US for fear of his concerts. anti-immigration crime.

His Super Bowl halftime show was full of Easter eggs for fans, nods to salsa stars and unreliable Puerto Rican lights, while the musicians wore straw hats or turkeys, which are used by agricultural workers.

“These gigs are connecting,” adds Belilty, who wants Latin America to be recognized in the 2031 census. “It doesn’t matter if you’re Colombian, you still celebrate a Puerto Rican who’s doing great. It’s a united voice.”

Birmingham’s Kimberley Ochoa, founder of the Latin American Chamber and director of the charity Latin Women UK, says the lack of visibility in the UK means some young Latinos are rejecting their heritage. “I see a lot of young people who have moved here to the UK, and it’s their third migration,” he said.

“Their parents are probably from Spain, and because of that, they don’t identify as Latinos. This time is empowering young people – second or third generation – to know where they came from.”

Most of the Latinos are close. Bad Bunny’s concerts will be followed by a Colombian artist Karol Gwho becomes the first Latina to headline the stadium here, and there is Frida Kahlo exhibition at Tate Modernwhich has become the best-selling show in the group.