Portsmouth Hispanic Society

October's meeting is another musical extravaganza with a totally different vibe. Yamir Gaitero is a professional artist with more than 20 year's experience in the interpretation and composition of Afro-Caribbean music, especially in the Gaitas and drum format of the Colombian Atlantic coast. He is the founding member of the successful Bogatá Luthiería company "Párajo Cantor" and has made musical tours, recordings, and workshops in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, and England.

Yamir's musical skills also include the design and construction of musical instruments typical to his style, for example Gaitas, Tambor Alegre, Tambora, Tambor Llamador, Maracas, and Millo flute.

Yamir's wife, Janneth Rey, is a Latin American dance teacher who will give a short workshop teaching some basic steps in the rhythms of Cumbia, Puya, and Colombian Salsa.

The evening starts at 7pm with a tapas buffet before Yamir and Jenneth kick off their packed schedule:

• DJ set of exquisite musical selections from different typical Afro-Colombian styles and rhythms.
• Music demonstration featuring some typical Colombian musical instruments, e.g. Gaitas, Caña de Millo, Maracas.
• Colombian dance workshop teaching some basic steps in the rhythms of Cumbia, Puya, and Colombian Salsa.

The evening's entertainment includes the usual light tapas buffet plus a short review of topical news from the Iberian peninsula, and perhaps beyond.

Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

November's meeting features a History of Cuba, presented by Cuban national Boris Martinez. Cuba is an island country located in the Caribbean, south of Florida and east of the Yucatàn Peninsula. Cuba has been inhabited for over 6,000 years experiencing a troubled history of colonisation, slavery, and revolution. After the collapse of the Soviet Union Cuba experienced severe economic issues, which still persist according to 2023 study by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights.

The evening's entertainment includes the usual light tapas buffet plus a short review of topical news from the Iberian peninsula, and perhaps beyond.

Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

Such an event is only possible with the active participation of society members and the committee is appealing for volunteers to help with the following:

• Set up the room.
• Serving the tapas buffet.
• Provide home cooked tapas dishes.
• Donate raffle prizes.
• Sell raffle tickets.
• Rendition of music, songs, poems, monologues, readings, etc.
• Tidy up after the event.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

This month's entertainment will be delivered over Zoom.

Society members will receive a meeting notification via email prior to the event date.

Non-members who wish to attend should contact info@spanishportsmouth.org.uk for more information.

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

This month's entertainment will be delivered over Zoom.

Society members will receive a meeting notification via email prior to the event date.

Non-members who wish to attend should contact info@spanishportsmouth.org.uk for more information.

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

Well-travelled birdwatcher, Keith Betton has made over 30 trips to Central and South America in search of birds, and he will tell us about some of the more interesting ones, and the amazing places that he has explored to find them.

The evening's entertainment includes the usual light tapas buffet plus a short review of topical news from the Iberian peninsula, and perhaps beyond.

Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

The evening's entertainment includes the usual light tapas buffet plus a short review of topical news from the Iberian peninsula, and perhaps beyond.

Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

Unfortunately Jan's talk about Frigiliana's Festival of the Three Cultures (Festival de las Tres Culturas) has been postponed. Instead the award nominated film El Sistema will be shown. Nominated in 2009 for The Grand Prize at the Skip City International D-Cinema Festival, El Sistema, directed by Paul Smaczny and Maria Stodtmeier, portrays how music has transformed the lives of children in Venezuela's most impoverished areas.

IMDb, the film website, rates El Sistema at 7.7 and provides the following storyline.

Venezuela's unique system of music education takes children from violent slums and turns some of them into world-class musicians. El Sistema shows how Venezuelan visionary Jose Antonio Abreu has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of children over the past three decades. This lyrical and moving documentary takes us from the rubbish dumps and barrios of Caracas to the world's finest concert halls. Children from streets dominated by the gun battles of gang warfare are taken into music schools, given access to music, and taught through the model of the symphony orchestra how to build a better society. Paul Smaczny and Maria Stodtmeier's film finds hope and joy in unlikely places.

Click here to view IMDb's entry for El Sistema

The evening's entertainment includes the usual light tapas buffet plus a short review of topical news from the Iberian peninsula, and perhaps beyond.

Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.

Cristian Herrera, an Argentine guitarist, honed his skills at Sindicato Argentino de Músicos. His music reflects his love for the instrument and diverse influences. With a unique style, Herrera's performances captivate audiences, showcasing his passion and dedication to the art of guitar playing.

You can preview the type of music that Cristian will be playing by visiting his website where there are links to his YouTube channel and other examples of his work.

Please note that a short section of the evening will include the society's Annual General Meeting.

The evening's entertainment includes the usual light tapas buffet plus a short review of topical news from the Iberian peninsula, and perhaps beyond.

Non‐members are very welcome provided they are at least 18 years of age.

There is a charge of £3.00 for non-members to attend any meeting.

The society does not have a licence to sell alcohol. The provision of wine at such events is dependent on the generosity of members so please, if you can, bring a bottle to share with fellow attendees. The same applies to soft drinks!

The presentation may be recorded and posted onto the society's website for later viewing.