A London-based organisation, Cubacheche works to promote Cuban and Afro-Cuban music and culture in the UK. Through events and trips to Cuba, Cubacheche aims to build awareness and understanding of, plus respect for, Afro-Cuban folkloric cultural traditions among Cubans and non-Cubans alike.

Since 2004, Carlos and Olwen have been working as part of UK based Meta Connections to bring a variety of experiences of song, music, and dance to the wider community.

Early in 2007 they set up Cubacheche, a new business designed to build on and extend their successes with Meta Connections by expanding the scope and variety of their Cuban cultural events and experiences.

Past events

A series of monthly ‘Sabado Folklorico’ (‘Folkloric Saturday’) cultural evenings organised by Meta Connections proved to be very successful and popular with both Cubans and non-Cubans. Each month the focus was on different aspects of Afro-Cuban culture, but always included the following elements:

• Live drumming – bata and rumba
• Dance performances, including folkloric Orisha dancing and popular Cuban dances - performers have included Guillermo Davis and Mario Lopez
• Short documentary films about Afro-Cuban culture
• Exhibitions of photographs by both British and Cuban photographers
• Home-cooked traditional Cuban food
• A bar selling Cuban cocktails
• A raffle with prizes including Cuban crafts, paintings, and instruments

Meta Connections also organised a variety of other musical and cultural evenings including:

• A night of Cuban films and music
• A night of dance performances
• A film screening of “Hasta Siempre?”
• Viernes Folklorico at Canning House, Belgrave Square