¿20.000 Bolivians in London? A study on the challenges of a Latino community in the UK

London is now the city with more Latinos in the world outside the Americas and Iberia. However, there is still no serious study of the massive South American immigration to the largest city in Europe or the United Kingdom. This, though in this island are several major departments of Latin American studies on the globe.

Hence, all contribute to this study that should be welcomed. Therefore highlight the work of the Runnymede organization that has made a series of investigations into the various colonies in UK. One of his latest works is the Páll Kjartan Sveinsson brochure "Bolivians in London - Challenges and Achievements of a community in London?.

This is based on an extensive bibliography and a series of 15 interviews. Their conclusions are that the official figures which manages the ministry of internal affairs (the Home Office) are completely outdated. According to the 2001 census is 525 bolivianos in London, but according to the Bolivian Embassy in UK there are at least 10,000 own countrymen in this city, although this study estimates the figure could rise to 15,000 or 20,000 Bolivians in the metropolis of Big Ben.

In this study the Bolivians began to arrive from the late sixties, and especially during the military dictatorship of Hugo Banzer (1971-78). However, its UK colony was very low, but since the beginning of this millennium there is an explosion. Thousands of new immigrants have come from that republic, often via Spain (where the largest colony is grounded in the old world).

Kjartan shows a good point when he says that the Bolivians, unlike Colombians do not have to apply for UK entry visa in their country (if not at the airport), which gives them less obstacles to reach England.

Much of the thousands of Bolivians who have recently arrived in the last 5 to 6 years have only tourist visas or study (which only allowed to work 20 hours a week, an amount that is usually quite overwhelmed to be able to afford UK services so expensive) and enter in an irregular situation to either stay late or work more hours than permitted.

This fragility in status between the newcomers and old make a difference in the Bolivian and also makes much of the new Bolivian immigrants suffer more discrimination, abuse and insecurity.

According Kjratn almost all Bolivians have worked or work in cleaning and to a lesser extent in restaurants or care of kids. A big problem many have is that they work in jobs that lower skilled est'an their professions or educational level.

Kjartan also hits the mark when he says that Bolivians feel overwhelmed when they want to immerse in a culture that is called in Latin America but is so dominated by Colombian migration. Bolivians are more fans to their own music and dances salsa to cumbia and northern South America. They have never had a civil war like Colombia (which impacts on their colony in UK) and its history and culture is different. He cites the success of the club that gives Earthquake Bolivian their own rhythms.

Kjartan also mentions that Bolivians are grouped in parties such as Anglo Bolivian Society or the Friends of Bolivia and the Carnaval del Pueblo. However, in the first case, he argues, the scene is heavily influenced by Bolivians established or married to British, and in the second case, salsa and Colombian rhythms.

Kjartan can not penetrate much on the specifics of immigration Camba, the same is increasingly growing and tends to create their own circles that often differ from the Collas. This, for example, is something that is seen in the Carnaval del Pueblo where the Santa Cruz reunited with their own poles claiming their "nation? or culture while the rest of Bolivians gathered in a plain far from the center of the festival.

Kjartan, too, proves to have a limited knowledge of the Latino community. The much compared to the Colombian Bolivian immigration but little or no talk of the Chilean (girl but the creator of all major UK Latino historical institutions: from the Casa Latina to some extent, Praxis), the Brazilian ( 200.000 to 300.000 Brazilians in London), the Ecuador (Ecuadorian 50-100.000 in UK) and Peru (20,000 Peruvians in UK).

Kjartan's work is to be applauded and deepened. It should also serve for other studies are given in relation to other Latino communities UK.