I Visited The Most Colombian Part Of The UK: Elephant & Castle

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]I visited Elephant and Castle, the hub for all Colombian and maybe even all Latino people in the UK. Today, we're diving into how they got here, especially are the councils trying to move them out and how the generations differ. But before we go anywhere, make sure you like, subscribe, and leave a comment. Let's go. You guys Colombian?

[00:00:19]>> Yeah, Colombian.

[00:00:20]>> How come so many Colombians in Elephant Castle? How come all these jobs this is Colombia the next all the design is Colombia the world community >> this is the hub side of elephant castle it's very different to this side >> even the new one >> do you feel like the council trying to push out Colombian community >> the future is this change everything you think this is going to change are you guys from elephant castle >> no we don't we are from Leicester >> you're from Leicester what brings you to elephant castle today you're Colombian right >> yeah we came today to the embassy we had to do some paperwork. So after that we came here to buy some things from our country.

[00:00:58]>> Is the embassy in Elephant Castle?

[00:00:59]>> No.

[00:01:00]>> No, just in London.

[00:01:01]>> It's in London.

[00:01:01]>> But whilst you're here, you come to visit.

[00:01:03]>> Yes. Close to Picadill Circus.

[00:01:04]>> Oh, close to Picadill Circus. Central London. Do you feel like anyone who's Colombia in the UK has a reason to come to Elephant Castle?

[00:01:13]>> As far as I know. Um I have some friends they say they like coming here because they like buy the food and that they sell here and also they like going to eat some food in some restaurants around. So yeah that's the main reason actually food and we today basically for that because all of this is wow snacks.

[00:01:33]>> Wow. It smells lovely.

[00:01:35]>> Just Colombian stuff.

[00:01:37]>> Wafers.

[00:01:38]>> Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Some biscuits.

[00:01:40]>> Some products from our country. So that's why >> guys, can I be honest? I never had a Colombian food.

[00:01:46]>> Never had Try, man.

[00:01:47]>> What What do you recommend? Best thing?

[00:01:50]>> Um, soo. What is What is that?

[00:01:54]>> It's a soup with uh, you know, um, cow ribs.

[00:01:58]>> Before you guys go, do you think I look Colombian?

[00:02:01]>> Colombia. Everyone in Colombia is mixing. He can be Colombian. You can be uh, black.

[00:02:07]>> You can be from the coast of Columbia, for example. the coast of Columbia is more black people in the middle is more mixed where you depends on the area you go to the south more is more like indigenous close to Ecuador is more sim they come from Leicester all the way to elephant and castle cuz this is the hub of the UK which is like I went the other day actually it took me 2 hours and a half and I don't even live in south I live above the water so it must take them like nearly 3 hours that's some real cultural impacts you know what I'm saying yeah there's a lot of Um like Colombian graffiti around there like el banano coming soon. Some bananas are coming. You know what I mean? It's Colombia. Now if you look at this part of the street, >> it's authentic. It's Colombian culture.

[00:02:54]But you turn around here and it's gentrification. Do you know what I mean?

[00:02:58]I don't know how they feel about that.

[00:02:59]Maybe they might feel that the gentrification trying to chuck them out just between one road. Do you know what I mean? Getting some free Colombian food.

[00:03:08]My first time ever having Colombian food still.

[00:03:11]Hey.

[00:03:12]>> Hey. Thank you.

[00:03:13]>> Thank you. Thank you. Is it like donut?

[00:03:16]>> Fried fried cheese.

[00:03:17]>> Fried cheese. Oh, is it a savory then?

[00:03:19]>> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, not savory, but >> like a sweet cheese. All right. Cool.

[00:03:23]Let's try it. Let's try it.

[00:03:26]>> So, what? I'm scared.

[00:03:35]>> Like a cheesy donut. I don't know what I think about this. This must be like some other sort of Colombian geyser.

[00:03:40]>> I think that's F. Something to do with F1 >> Formula One. Oh yeah, he's got the yellow and red. Yeah. Hat and Yeah.

[00:03:45]>> Pastor Ario. Pastor Ariana. Bolivia.

[00:03:49]Bolivia. Sister Anna.

[00:03:52]Anna.

[00:03:52]>> What is it like uh the Colombian culture in the area? How would you describe it?

[00:03:58]>> It's very nice.

[00:03:59]>> Very nice.

[00:04:00]>> I love it. This place.

[00:04:02]>> You see this side of the road?

[00:04:03]>> Yeah. It feels very Colombian authentic culture community and then that side of the road it's like new buildings gentrification.

[00:04:13]>> Do you feel like like they're trying to get the the people Colombian people out of Elephant Castle building these new expensive buildings?

[00:04:20]>> Ah okay. This is um different because yes when you in in here is you not the different for the cultural. Yeah, >> this one is more more more Colombia, more Latin, >> you know, since the new buildings come.

[00:04:38]>> Yeah.

[00:04:38]>> Is Colombian people leaving the area?

[00:04:40]>> Maybe disappear disapp maybe maybe. Hopefully. I think the old the Latin is is maybe I I feeling disappear.

[00:04:52]>> Oh, that's that's not good.

[00:04:53]>> Yes, it does.

[00:04:54]>> This is a heart of the culture.

[00:04:55]>> Oh, yes. I know. But is is the government is it's impossible to block this one.

[00:05:04]>> Yes. This is I think all the the community I think. Thank you for that.

[00:05:11]This is the feeling is no. I don't know about >> you don't know where it's going to go.

[00:05:17]Yeah. That's a shame. Do you live in Elephant Castle?

[00:05:19]>> Two years before.

[00:05:20]>> You used to.

[00:05:21]>> Yes. And Kennington, but now Kennington as well.

[00:05:24]>> Yes. And now I'm outside London.

[00:05:27]>> Now outside London.

[00:05:28]>> So do did you feel like you got pushed out? Yeah.

[00:05:31]>> Ah, but you still here though? At least working.

[00:05:34]>> I won. It's in my wish. But I don't know.

[00:05:37]>> Don't know how it's going to go.

[00:05:38]>> I wish you the best.

[00:05:39]>> Thank you for your time.

[00:05:41]>> Thank you.

[00:05:41]>> Thank you so much.

[00:05:44]>> Why? What have I done?

[00:05:45]>> Is everything okay? Christian. I'm a man of God. I'm a Christian. Everything okay, brother?

[00:05:48]>> I'm a brother. I'm a Christian, brother.

[00:05:50]I'm a Christian. I'm a man of God.

[00:05:52]>> What's the problem?

[00:05:52]>> She don't want my service.

[00:05:54]>> Oh, you want to give her service of like spiritualism? Like Christianity.

[00:05:57]>> Christianity. I wanted to buy things from her, but she don't want service.

[00:06:00]>> What did you want to buy?

[00:06:02]>> No, she she don't want my service. She She sent me and she judged me.

[00:06:06]>> You know what? If someone judges you, you know what you got to do?

[00:06:08]>> Yeah.

[00:06:09]>> Don't worry about it.

[00:06:10]>> Yeah.

[00:06:10]>> You're going to focus on your journey.

[00:06:12]>> Yeah.

[00:06:12]>> And you're going to go somewhere else and give your >> your soul and your heart to other people that deserve it.

[00:06:20]>> Where are you from, brother? Come. Let's talk outside. Let's don't worry about these people.

[00:06:23]>> Mhm.

[00:06:25]>> Take care. See you later.

[00:06:27]>> Ciao.

[00:06:28]Mandiga, see what happened. I went in there for their service. Yeah.

[00:06:32]>> Um, listen, let me let me just go into the world.

[00:06:36]>> Yeah.

[00:06:36]>> Oh, this is good. This this what I love.

[00:06:38]>> Do you live in Elephant Castle?

[00:06:40]>> I live in Kennington.

[00:06:42]>> I speak Spanish.

[00:06:43]>> I speak Tino dialect.

[00:06:46]>> Yeah. I also speak Cherokee dialect. My cousins in America are Cherokees.

[00:06:51]>> Yeah. Native American. We speak Spanish because we got conquered by the Spanish.

[00:06:56]We forgive them. But we have love. We have Jesus.

[00:06:58]>> But these people got conquered by Spanish, too.

[00:07:00]>> They got conquered by Spanish, too. So, they should understand each other.

[00:07:04]>> They should understand each other. But they got no love no more there because they they let the devil use them.

[00:07:09]>> Let's go here. Let's go.

[00:07:10]>> They let the devil use them and they've got no love and they should have love.

[00:07:14]They don't accept me.

[00:07:15]>> The Colombians don't accept you.

[00:07:16]>> You know something? When I was a little boy, I played with Colombian. I played in a football league with Cumb with Colombian team FC America. We won the trophy twice. I was I was I was a I was a defender.

[00:07:27]>> Wow.

[00:07:27]>> I was a defender.

[00:07:28]>> What? In the in the English league?

[00:07:30]>> Yes. In the English league. In Cap and Common Cap. I used to play >> brother.

[00:07:35]>> Yeah.

[00:07:35]>> You know, growing up in these areas around the Colombian people like you said you did with football and things.

[00:07:40]>> Of course.

[00:07:40]>> What was it like though? How did How did it feel?

[00:07:43]>> They're racist. They're racist. Why?

[00:07:45]Why? They have no mole. No love. No love. They look at black people. They call us Marino. We don't marino. They call us like like we're we're outsiders like we're devils. Diablos >> and and and they don't realize that that Africa >> surely not all of them though.

[00:08:01]>> No, not majority out of 100%. You find 80 you you find you find 80 you find 80% that is racist. Racist. Why?

[00:08:13]>> I didn't even mean to interview this gentleman. It kind of just happened. But things were going a bit left. He was going off track. He wasn't making so much sense. So I decided to call it a day for the best. Well, I mean I at least tried to call it a day for the best. He on the other hand had some other plans.

[00:08:30]>> One god, >> many nations.

[00:08:32]>> You're right. I'm sorry. I got I got to go somewhere.

[00:08:35]>> I got to go as well.

[00:08:36]>> Thank you. Have a lovely day. Yeah.

[00:08:38]>> I was I was in I was in I was in Brixton >> and my friend coming from college. Guess what happened? I see a little clum to us like we're monkeys. You know I did. I just laugh. I went I went in your door.

[00:08:54]>> Bless him. But he was starting to linger like a bad smell. I went left. I went right. He was right by me. Luckily for me, some traffic wardens pulled up. He thought they were police and he left.

[00:09:02]>> What do you think about elephant and castle when you're around it?

[00:09:05]>> What I think about elephant castle around it?

[00:09:06]>> Yeah.

[00:09:08]>> This pit's [ __ ] here.

[00:09:09]>> You think?

[00:09:10]>> Yeah. Run down, isn't it? Needs updating.

[00:09:12]>> Don't you think this bit's nicer than that bit though?

[00:09:14]>> That bit?

[00:09:15]>> I feel like this is more like real than that.

[00:09:18]>> Do you? Yeah, like this is like real people, real communities here.

[00:09:21]>> Yeah, this what this is. But this needs they need to maybe >> But once they vamp it up, maybe these people can't afford to have a shop here in it.

[00:09:29]>> Then they should vamp it up themselves.

[00:09:31]>> Get their own people to spray the walls.

[00:09:33]>> But they got nice little art here. You know what I mean?

[00:09:36]>> Bit spray all of it.

[00:09:37]>> Spray all of it.

[00:09:38]>> Make it all look good.

[00:09:39]>> Where you from, if don't mind me asking, brother?

[00:09:41]>> Mstone Kent.

[00:09:42]>> Mstone Kent.

[00:09:43]>> Yeah.

[00:09:43]>> How long does it take you to get here?

[00:09:44]>> Ages.

[00:09:45]>> Hour one of it.

[00:09:47]Uh about an hour and a half.

[00:09:48]>> Did you know that Elephant and Castle is the most Colombian populated place in the United Kingdom?

[00:09:53]>> Yeah.

[00:09:54]>> Yeah.

[00:09:54]>> Yeah. Rand.

[00:09:55]>> Have you tried the food?

[00:09:56]>> Yeah, mate. Yeah. Them. See them? Yeah.

[00:09:58]>> See them?

[00:09:59]>> Yeah.

[00:09:59]>> Banging.

[00:10:00]>> They look like Jamaican party.

[00:10:02]>> Whatever they are, mate. They are >> What are they? What?

[00:10:04]>> I can't even say the word, mate, but they're banging.

[00:10:06]>> What's it like for Colombian culture at Elephant Castle with the new builds happening? Do you feel like they're trying to push the people of the area out?

[00:10:14]uh well developing is is uh going on the on this city and then uh yeah most likely >> make it harder for the Colombian people for the last 20 30 years that have been here to stay living here in it.

[00:10:27]>> I haven't been that long anyway but uh >> how long have you >> I can see it lately over 5 years but uh you've been here over 5 years.

[00:10:34]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What >> in England or Elephant Castle?

[00:10:36]>> Oh, right here in London.

[00:10:37]>> Where was you before here?

[00:10:39]>> Uh up north. Wood green.

[00:10:40]>> Up on wood green. Up north. I'm thinking Scotland.

[00:10:44]>> Excuse me, guys.

[00:10:46]>> Are you guys land developers?

[00:10:48]>> Uh, well, we're trying to be. Yeah. Go on. How can we help you?

[00:10:50]>> Um, are you familiar with Elephant Castle?

[00:10:53]>> Just got here.

[00:10:53]>> You just got here. And you look what you looking to do like build flats here.

[00:10:56]>> So, we are we're buying agents. We're working for clients looking to acquire properties in this area.

[00:11:01]>> So, when you guys are looking for property to develop in these places, do you feel like it kind of becomes harder for the community to stay in the area?

[00:11:10]No, I don't think so because >> it's it's it's prices are market driven, aren't they? So >> if a flat's going to cost something here, it's going to cost the same same here. Yeah, you do get like pre premium prices on new properties. I guess >> if you look on that side of the road, it's very Colombian culture.

[00:11:28]>> Yeah. Okay.

[00:11:29]>> Good community. Do you feel like there's no chance the council is trying to push out the Colombian culture of the community?

[00:11:34]>> No, I don't think so. cuz local planning offices they they want to make sure there's a certain amount of housing available for everybody. So, >> okay. Thank you very much. Have a lovely day.

[00:11:42]>> Cheers. Good luck.

[00:11:43]>> Okay. This is so gentrified compared to where we just was.

[00:11:46]>> They've got a G there. If you have a G, that's gentrification.

[00:11:52]>> Woo. That wind is crazy. Look at this.

[00:11:55]This is so unsouth London. Heavily deserts in the estate. That isn't Colombian. That isn't South London.

[00:12:02]>> Are you guys Colombian by the >> No. But I see you all over my Tik Tok.

[00:12:05]>> Are you guys from the Liverpool area?

[00:12:06]>> No, I live in North London.

[00:12:07]>> You're in North London?

[00:12:08]>> Yeah, we go uni here.

[00:12:09]>> I go uni here. You go uni around here?

[00:12:11]>> Yeah.

[00:12:12]>> You're familiar that this very Colombian this area?

[00:12:14]>> Mhm. Yeah.

[00:12:15]>> What is it like being amongst Colombians in this area? How are they as people?

[00:12:19]>> Interact.

[00:12:19]>> You don't interact with him.

[00:12:21]>> Just come here to study and that's it.

[00:12:23]Do you know what I mean?

[00:12:23]>> You from the local area?

[00:12:24]>> No, I'm from Lewisham.

[00:12:26]>> From Lewisham. All right. But you know about Elephant Castle?

[00:12:28]>> Yeah. Unfortunately, >> when you think about Elephant Castle community, what's like one group of people you automatically think of?

[00:12:34]>> What? Like people that live in the area?

[00:12:36]>> Yeah.

[00:12:36]>> Uh you trying to make a racial remark?

[00:12:39]>> No, no, it's not racial. It's the topic of the video.

[00:12:41]>> Topic of the video. Uh it's it's highly populated like Asians.

[00:12:44]>> Asians.

[00:12:44]>> Asians. Yeah.

[00:12:46]>> They're Asians.

[00:12:47]>> Yeah.

[00:12:47]>> You know what this is about?

[00:12:48]>> Like Chinese Asians.

[00:12:50]>> Okay. This is gingification though.

[00:12:52]>> Oh. Oh, you're saying Yeah. Yeah.

[00:12:53]Property, etc. But no. Yeah. There's obviously there's a lot of like Spanish and and and like Latin Latinx, you're not allowed to say Latino anymore. It's Latinx. Um people in the area, but it's multicultural as as anything, can it?

[00:13:05]You can literally walk down this street and see people from different parts of the world, whether it be Eastern European, uh South American, uh Middle Eastern, Central Asia, this >> Colombian community in this area.

[00:13:17]>> Do they interact with like the non-Colombians as much or do you think it keeps in itself?

[00:13:21]>> I think it's quite separated.

[00:13:22]>> It's It's mad cuz it's like, you know, that side of the road. Yeah, >> they've got their like their own barber shop, >> their own strip.

[00:13:28]>> This is the gentrified side, >> but there it's like >> that's what he means when there's like Asians back here >> and that's the only kind of people that come in >> really. So you you won't even get Colombians walking on this side. It's quite interesting really cuz now I'm properly understanding what's going on here.

[00:13:45]>> Colombians have their side of Elephant and Castle and kind of everyone else, all the gentrification, all the non-Colombians are on this side.

[00:13:53]Everyone there was Colombian walking on the street.

[00:13:56]>> No one here is Colombian walking on the street.

[00:13:58]>> Yeah.

[00:13:58]>> It's like 100 meters away and it's not the same place. Like this might even be his own area in like years to come. You know what? Call me a conspiracy theorist. I'm not putting this down to Colombians not wanting to mingle with non-Colombians. I'm not doing that. I'm putting this down to intentional, unintentional, I don't know, segregation from councils when they've only got that part of the area for themselves. Why are they going to come here? They don't know anything but that. They're not even born here, some of these people.

[00:14:31]>> So, it's hard to learn. Like, they don't want ramen steak and they don't want Thai food. You know what I mean? They just want their own food. But when you're putting everything that isn't Colombia in one space and everything that is Colombia in another space, you're pushing them to stay on their own. You know what I mean? This is a council problem, man.

[00:14:51]>> How's it going, man? Good, >> bro. Are you from this local area, Elephant Castle? Did you grow up in Elephant Castle?

[00:14:55]>> No, I didn't grow in Coron.

[00:14:56]>> You grew up in Coron. How long have you been here?

[00:14:58]>> Uh, since 2018.

[00:14:59]>> 2018.

[00:15:00]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:15:01]>> So, you know, when you got here, did Elephant Castle look like this or was it un ginger?

[00:15:05]>> It was It was on the cusp. I was the one of the first new builds to come through.

[00:15:09]So yeah, it was it's changed a lot.

[00:15:11]>> You know, on that side of the road, >> yeah, >> there's a big Colombian influence, >> Colombian street art, Colombian music, Colombian people. Do you feel like it's a bit separated, though?

[00:15:21]>> It's a good question. It's a good question. Yeah, obviously you got the Latin Quarter there, Elephant Road.

[00:15:25]>> Yeah.

[00:15:26]>> And you got the park. So, I've never really contemplated. I've quite like the fact they've got that area there. But I mean, if you don't care, you got Mikos, you got the Ecuadorian, and uh Yeah. So, good question. I think Mikos is the outlier. So yeah, probably probably to answer your question there is except for >> because I feel like when I'm looking at this street >> obviously it's only maybe 100 meters maybe. But >> there isn't much reason for them to mingle amongst this part of the road because >> it's all completely segregated. I'm thinking by I could be wrong maybe by the council on purpose. I don't know.

[00:15:56]>> I don't know. I feel like they've tried to push that. So, for example, when they first released these uh shops, I think it was only going to be for local or independent businesses, but then they couldn't fill them. And that's why Gales came in and >> that's why Jo the Juice came in. But that I don't think that was ever the plan. I think the rents have been too high for Do >> you know if they're trying to get rid of that? Yeah. Like all of the Colombian little shops.

[00:16:21]>> I think they're trying to rehome them.

[00:16:22]So, the new shopping center in there. I think the intention is whether that happens, I don't know.

[00:16:26]>> Oh, it's mad really right now. I feel like we're crossing back into >> the Colombian territory. Hello, miss.

[00:16:32]How are you?

[00:16:32]>> You okay? I'm good, thank you.

[00:16:33]>> Yeah, you're filming.

[00:16:34]>> Yeah.

[00:16:35]>> What you doing?

[00:16:35]>> We're doing a documentary about Elephant Castle.

[00:16:37]>> All right.

[00:16:38]>> But the Colombian culture in Elephant and Castle.

[00:16:40]>> All right.

[00:16:40]>> Have you lived around this area a long time?

[00:16:42]>> 40 years.

[00:16:43]>> 40 years. Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?

[00:16:45]>> No, it's all right.

[00:16:46]>> Um, what is your name if you don't mind me asking?

[00:16:47]>> Janet.

[00:16:48]>> Janet. 40 years in Elephant and Castle.

[00:16:51]>> I'm also a campaigner.

[00:16:52]>> Campaigner.

[00:16:53]>> I've campaigned against all the development.

[00:16:55]>> You don't like the development? Jan, you're the perfect person to ask. I was actually asking my friend just now. We was trying to work out where was the original Elephant Castle Shopping Center. Was it there?

[00:17:03]>> Oh, it's there over there.

[00:17:04]>> It's there.

[00:17:05]>> Yeah. Well, it was there >> on that site there. So, where they're building now, that's where the shopping center was.

[00:17:10]>> My dad's from Burmany. Oh, >> so he's from South London. I was telling him when my dad was younger, he said that Elephant Castle Shopping Center was the hub for South London.

[00:17:19]>> It was >> like a Westfield of his day.

[00:17:21]>> It was a hub at the time and it sort of got a bit old and shabby. Yeah, >> but it was still a hub. It was still it always remained a hub, you know. It was a central point for the community.

[00:17:32]>> Was it a very like Latino Colombian place at all or >> It was mixed really. Yeah, I know we do have a large Latin community, you know, but it was mixed. It wasn't all that.

[00:17:44]>> In fact, they came quite late for Latin community. When when it first opened, it was all local businesses.

[00:17:49]>> What What year did that open? If if you can remember, >> 19 Oh, I don't know. 1967 I think.

[00:17:56]>> And they maybe come by the 80s.

[00:17:58]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:17:58]>> And I think then they just sort of come in the L community.

[00:18:02]>> Yeah.

[00:18:03]>> Um >> do you feel like I had a little walk around that side of the area and had a little walk around this side of the area and I can't help but notice >> they are polar opposites of each other.

[00:18:15]>> Um this area has got posh restaurants.

[00:18:18]>> Gentrification.

[00:18:19]>> Gentrification. This area has got I'd say Colombian strong community on this side. Walking on both sides, I don't see any of these people from that place entering this side. No.

[00:18:30]>> And I don't see any of the say Colombian people >> entering that side.

[00:18:34]>> Well, no, no disrespect, but the Latin and the Latin community tend to go to their own community places. They go to their own.

[00:18:41]>> They understand each other language community. Yeah. They go to and they speak the language. Some of them don't speak English, do they? They go they tend to stick to their own community.

[00:18:51]>> What I was thinking is a bit of this problem at Elephant and Castle. The way they've built the new side, they haven't allowed maybe if there was like something for the gentrified people, something for the old English people, something for the old Colombian people all in one space as an area. Everyone's going to pass each other. It builds community. But now they've left it.

[00:19:10]leave all the Latino people here and everyone gentrified this side and then it's just no one even knows each other anymore in one area.

[00:19:17]>> No. Whereas in the shopping center we did.

[00:19:20]>> In the shopping center we was all it was a mixed community. It was like one big family. You had the Latinos, you had other cultures, you know, we had large Bengali community, you know, and all.

[00:19:32]>> And you're Turkish?

[00:19:33]>> Yeah. Why are you Turkish?

[00:19:35]>> I'm Turk.

[00:19:36]>> All right. Where you from?

[00:19:37]>> North Cypress.

[00:19:38]>> All right. Well, my husband was Turkish.

[00:19:40]>> Really?

[00:19:41]>> Yeah.

[00:19:41]>> Where was he from?

[00:19:42]>> Where from?

[00:19:43]>> Eskashir.

[00:19:43]>> Eskushier. Oh, wow.

[00:19:44]>> In Turkey.

[00:19:45]>> Would you ever leave Elephant and Castle, Janet?

[00:19:48]>> No. I can't leave. No. I'm 70.

[00:19:50]>> Would you want to though?

[00:19:52]>> No.

[00:19:52]>> No. This your home, is it?

[00:19:53]>> I've always lived here 40 years.

[00:19:56]>> So, I campaigned against the shopping center.

[00:19:59]>> Yeah.

[00:20:00]>> Campaigned against everything. And, you know, >> still have >> cuz they've turned our community into a posh sub central London.

[00:20:11]>> I don't know what to They've c they've made it soulless, >> you know. It's soulless.

[00:20:16]>> It's um sterile.

[00:20:18]>> Are you guys from Elephant Castle?

[00:20:19]>> Yeah, these are these are end.

[00:20:21]>> What's it like living with the Colombian community? Do you think they mingle with you guys or they on their own?

[00:20:26]>> I barely I barely see them around. I barely see them around.

[00:20:28]>> They just keep to their own thing.

[00:20:30]>> Yeah. Like elephant is just elephant like But elephant started to become more posh and it's like what? Yeah.

[00:20:36]>> Yeah. It's a good thing or a bad thing?

[00:20:38]>> Um, bad thing cuz we need it to feel like home.

[00:20:41]>> It's not home anymore. Now, when I was doing some research, I read that a lot of the Colombian community were fleeing from potential cartel wars at the time in the 80s, fleeing the dangers of war.

[00:20:52]It was a very dangerous place for them and they settled in Elephant and Castle and surrounding areas like Kennet and Savoc, etc. That's why they're such a community and hub for the Colombians in Elephant especially. Believe it or not, you wouldn't think it looking at it now, but Elephant and Castle used to be a really cheap area to live in.

[00:21:11]>> It meant people could come here, start new lives, and buy humble homes for themselves. Now, it would be impossible.

[00:21:18]>> Now, we left Elephant to head down to Camden and talk to a Colombian rapper Kiko about his connection with Elephant.

[00:21:23]It's about time we got the younger generation's perspective, man.

[00:21:26]>> The brother Kiko right now.

[00:21:27]>> We got a Colombian Latin rapper. How many years you been doing that, man?

[00:21:31]>> For like seven years now.

[00:21:33]>> Seven years.

[00:21:34]>> Yeah. You got it in London though in it.

[00:21:36]>> Grew up born and raised London, West London. Yeah, man. But you know, you can't forget the culture as well. So, I always been in touch with my South American side.

[00:21:43]>> Your parents first like come to you when they come to the UK.

[00:21:45]>> When they first landed, so my mom came first. She was in like I think she they were in like a hostel. My little sister was just born. She was like 2 years old when my my older sister obviously came.

[00:21:58]I was born here. Um they landed at like Swiss cottage in a hostel in Swiss cottage and then from there the rest my my grand had 14 14 kids in it so I got a big family. So yeah when they landed they first went they first went Swiss cottage like some hostel and then my dad came over after.

[00:22:17]>> So yeah man.

[00:22:18]>> So like growing up did you was your parents like bring you to like places like Elephant Castle to be around the Colombian people?

[00:22:23]>> Yeah. So um I went from young my mom obviously the first church she found here she's like proper Christian in it woman in it. So she took man church from young bro like by force in it. So and that was in elephant and castle. So that's how I kind of came familiar like become familiar with elephant and castle from going church around there. And then that's when I saw like oh yo there's bear of us here.

[00:22:48]>> It was like a big it used to be called fusion. I think they knocked it down now. It was like a sports center but it was like a big horn >> and um there was like there was bear of us and then that's when I kind of locked in with more people from London that are do you know what I'm saying?

[00:23:01]>> Yeah. Colombian as well.

[00:23:02]>> Yeah. Yeah. So and then obviously elephant and castle has all the food spots. So we'd go there get food after.

[00:23:08]Do you know what I'm saying?

[00:23:09]>> Must have been like kind of mad where say like one day a week or one day a month you're going to the church and stuff.

[00:23:15]>> Yeah. It was one it was every Sunday.

[00:23:16]Every Sunday you're going to church in in elephant and then you're seeing so much like Spanish language and Colombian food and Colombian culture >> and then >> at the same day you're going back home >> going back and there's nothing >> and there's nothing you can't get none of them snacks or none of them >> unless my mom made >> in America there's a few in it like people with the heritage in it.

[00:23:34]>> There's bare because there's so many Latinos in like Miami >> so close really in it.

[00:23:39]>> Exactly.

[00:23:40]>> Why would a person from Colombia choose the UK over USA though? You know what I'm saying? cuz I know little bits of people that are like Turkish that move to America. But then I'm thinking distance-wise, why did you go America instead of the UK? Cuz everyone goes UK for us. You know what I'm saying?

[00:23:54]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Obviously, I feel like here you get a lot of help as well, isn't it? Like especially if you got kids, >> you know, like you get the extra help from the government and whatnot. True.

[00:24:03]>> So I feel like that has a big >> America's a bit more cutthroat.

[00:24:06]>> Yeah. And there used to be like like for example my dad obviously my granddad got killed in front of my dad in it.

[00:24:13]So not that he used that to his advantage to come here, but it was kind of like things were happening in the family where he felt like his life was at risk.

[00:24:22]>> Yeah. So he came to the G and they were like, "Yeah, cool. Honor." Remember, bro, >> the Pablo Escobar times as well.

[00:24:28]>> A lot of people was affected by that. So a lot of people wanted to leave.

[00:24:31]>> That was the cartel was.

[00:24:32]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah. So Pablo was killing a lot of people. You know what I'm saying? A lot of bad people. Good people.

[00:24:37]>> He's not like hero like people make him out to be.

[00:24:40]>> You know what? I'd always say it's like 50/50 cuz he did do a lot a lot of good for the community but then at the same time a lot of people hate him over there.

[00:24:47]>> You see what I'm saying?

[00:24:49]>> And I got like I got I got aunt family over there that lived through that time and it when all of that was happening.

[00:24:54]>> It's not like it's not just a movie thing. It's real life.

[00:24:57]>> Auntie you see people on the streets head split open. You know what I'm saying? They were like he was giving money to all the cicarios which are like the hitters to get rid of cops. He was I think he was given like $500, $1,000 and at that time that was a lot of money just to go >> Yeah. go show me how much police officers be killed here. You know what I'm saying? So >> yeah, it's like it's like the movies, bro. Literally. So a lot of families from that time just >> get out of the trouble.

[00:25:24]>> Yeah. He's like like, "Oh, my life's in danger." And obviously know this country. He's like open arms.

[00:25:29]>> Kiko gave us a very interesting insight into this. He was also kind enough to invite us to a studio session with more Colombian artists and producers, meaning we had more chance to hear more stories of the younger generation.

[00:25:39]>> It was in Elephant today, isn't it?

[00:25:41]>> Yeah.

[00:25:41]>> Okay. Okay.

[00:25:42]>> Yeah. I went to Elephant. I went to like the like the arches where all the restaurants are and everything.

[00:25:48]>> Then obviously, yeah, I was there and then I kind of crossed over to the other side of it past where the old like shopping center was.

[00:25:55]>> And then that side is like the complete opposite of of what that is, isn't it?

[00:26:00]that's like so like fake looking. Um >> they knocked they knocked down better stuff.

[00:26:06]>> All the [ __ ] maddest >> estate all that they smashed it all down.

[00:26:12]>> Yeah.

[00:26:12]>> Yeah, that was a mad estate.

[00:26:14]>> That was a mad state.

[00:26:14]>> Yeah. When was an elephant? Everyone's like just >> probably like >> getting to the UK or maybe they've been there time but yeah they never learn language. First generation you lot to you lot. I didn't speak to no one that was Colombian and was born here. like their parents come. Everyone was just here in it. So you lot are like the we got to see like the original generation that's still chilling the elephant where to you lot are like the British Colombians now.

[00:26:40]>> Let's go like from the beginning like you you came here when you was how old was it?

[00:26:44]>> 9 months.

[00:26:44]>> 9 months.

[00:26:46]>> You stayed here till what age would you say?

[00:26:50]>> I've always been here. I've always I live when I moved here. I lived here.

[00:26:55]>> I visited Colombia when I was about 14.

[00:26:58]I reckon that's the first time I visited family. I was young to be honest. I don't really remember too much.

[00:27:04]>> You said Elephant Castle kind of had like a big place in your like childhood or upbringing or culture.

[00:27:12]>> I always knew that Elephant and Castle was like the spot for Latinos and it was just full of Latino restaurants and stuff like that. But like in terms of going to chill there and stuff like that, not really.

[00:27:22]>> Nah.

[00:27:22]>> Did you grow up quite far away from >> I grew up in Catford. Oh, it's not even that far really, is it?

[00:27:28]>> I grew up in Cap.

[00:27:29]>> Yeah. South London.

[00:27:32]>> I was the only Colombian in my school.

[00:27:34]>> Okay.

[00:27:35]>> I didn't really meet other Latinos until after I left school.

[00:27:38]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:27:39]>> So, I always chilled with like Jamaicans and Africans. You know what I'm saying?

[00:27:45]>> Did you like kind of think, oh, I wish I was in maybe an area that's a bit more Latino. So, >> I remember thinking that one time, but then it just is it was where it was saying. Yeah. I I remember realizing that, oh [ __ ] like I'm the only Colombian person in this school. Like, >> but then it was just like is what it is, you know?

[00:28:05]>> How come um if you don't mind me asking, what led your parents to saying when you was so young with a guy in the UK, we can't do this here?

[00:28:15]>> I think just for a better life.

[00:28:17]>> Better life, more opportunities.

[00:28:19]>> Yeah. Colombia is good. But >> again, it's like to make a living is >> it's night and day over there and over here.

[00:28:30]>> I think they just wanted more for us, you know, for my me and my two brothers.

[00:28:33]I got two brothers.

[00:28:34]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:28:35]>> They just wanted more for us >> cuz I work around elephants sometimes as well.

[00:28:39]>> If I know that there's stuff to make in it.

[00:28:42]>> So you go is like our corn flour. Do you know what I mean? Like make the patties to make our own patties and then panadas like to make our stuff in it. We know the shops where to go and it's obviously going to be in Elephant. You know what I'm saying? But then Seven Sisters has a lot of >> Yeah. That's like the North London.

[00:28:58]>> That's the North alternative.

[00:29:00]>> Yeah. If you go north, Seven Sisters, you got loads of little Latin clubs, Latin spots, Latin restaurants, bare little spots you you go to. I don't like the empanadas from this spot. Oh, let's go to the You know what I'm saying? You know where to go.

[00:29:13]>> Variety.

[00:29:13]>> Yeah. Elephants got a lot of variety.

[00:29:15]Like even like down the alleyways and stuff. There's all these little hidden went to another spot the other day.

[00:29:21]What's with La Negra?

[00:29:23]>> We had to go up some alleyway up some stairs. It's like Cella, you know, >> and she's just cooking some mad food.

[00:29:30]Like I was like, never seen this spot, but there's a old lady just cooking it up. So there's always there's you're always going to find little spots here and there.

[00:29:39]>> Most people know the the clubs like Bola.

[00:29:43]There's certain spots you go to. Kong guys from back in the day. Was that Pon?

[00:29:49]Remember back in the day in Brixton?

[00:29:51]Even Brixton's got loads of Colombian.

[00:29:54]Brixton's got loads of Colombian.

[00:29:56]>> Would Would you say like your generation has like British Colombians, you're more comfortable obviously cuz the way you've grown up in this country to kind of spread out a bit more than like focusing on like Elephant and Castle or Seven Sisters?

[00:30:11]>> Probably. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:30:14]There's more integration now as well.

[00:30:16]>> Yeah.

[00:30:17]>> You know what I'm saying? It's not like before everyone's like, "Oh, well, I know a cousin that lives here. Let me go live in that area as well."

[00:30:23]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:30:23]>> Let me You know what I'm saying?

[00:30:24]>> Yeah. Yeah. When I was in Elephant today, like the age range was probably like I say like 40 to 60. I was seeing I wasn't seeing. So I was seeing a few young Colombian people, but I'm seeing more like >> older people. older people, uncles sitting down or chatting, having like coffee or something. And >> when when did you go?

[00:30:46]>> About 2 3:00.

[00:30:48]>> All right. So that's obviously a daytime thing. If you go a weekend and you stand outside Bolaucho, >> you're just going to see a whole heap of young, >> you know what I'm saying?

[00:30:57]>> So the young people are still coming back >> to the to the roots of the community.

[00:31:02]>> Still elephant castle. Yeah.

[00:31:04]>> Bolo is like the after party. Most people go party in West End their Mayfairs >> and then go >> and then after a while they're going to be like where's the everyone wants to go that's how we call it >> and then you just go there to the after afters >> and you're going to go there till 8 or 6:00 in the morning that's probably where you're going to go and get >> get smashed you know what I'm saying >> is a little club >> right right next to the station in the castle >> right on that strip >> the the alleyway one >> like the arches >> yeah you got two stations You got >> it's a pool club really. In the daytime it's a pool club but they just cover the the the tables >> and then they just serve drinks and then everyone's just there dancing. Salsa regaton everything. Like when you go there for your first time you probably like whoa.

[00:31:51]>> You know what I'm saying?

[00:31:52]>> Cuz you're like what is going on? Like everyone's just dancing. Everyone's just You know what I'm saying? Then you realize okay it's got its own little kind of energy.

[00:32:01]>> Yeah.

[00:32:01]>> I don't go no more cuz it's low >> trouble as well. Yeah.

[00:32:07]>> Latin people don't know how to drink.

[00:32:08]>> That's it. Yeah.

[00:32:10]>> Big up the Colombian community. We learned a lot about them today. We learned about how they feel about Elephant and how Elephant and Castle feels about them. So, if you like this video, make sure you like, subscribe, and leave a comment. Also, drop a comment about where we should document next. Which community deserves their story to be voiced.