Cubans in the United Kingdom
Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
Greater London | |
Languages | |
British English · Spanish | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Spanish Briton · Britalian · Portuguese Briton · Hispanics · White Cuban · Afro-Cuban · Jewish Cuban · Chinese Cuban · Latin American Briton · Latino |
Cubans in the United Kingdom are Cuban people who were born in or have migrated to the United Kingdom. According to the 2001 Census, there were 1,083 Cuban-born people living in the UK.[1] In 2001, the UK held host to the sixth largest number of Cuban emigrants on the planet (behind the USA, Spain, Italy, Mexico and Canada respectively).[1]
Cuban culture in the UK
The Carnival de Cuba is an annual carnival that celebrates Cuban culture in the UK, it is the largest such carnival in Europe and attracts around 50,000 visitors.[2]
Notable individuals
Notable Cuban individuals in the UK include:
- Omar Puente (1962-Present), Musician.
- Guillermo Cabrera Infante (1929-2005), Novelist, Essayist, Translator, and Critic. Sometimes went by the pseudonym G. Caín.
- Yat-Sen Chang (who is of Chinese Cuban origin) (1970-Present), Ballet Dancer.
- William Montagu Iznaga (1877-1947), A famous Peer and Liberal Politician.
- Maria Consuelo Clemens Iznaga (1858-1909), Former Duchess of Manchester.
- Lourdes Maria Ciccone-Leon (1996-Present) (the daughter of Madonna and Carlos Leon) who lives in the UK.[citation needed]
- Dane Bowers (1979-Present), Singer and former Another Level member.
- Sienna Guillory (1975-Present), Actress and Model.
- Marcus Patrick (1974-Present), Actor.
In January 2001, the corpses of two stowaway Cubans, Alberto Vazquez, 17, and Maikel Fonseca, 16 were discovered (one at Gatwick Airport and one in a Surrey field) after hiding in the undercarriage of a London-bound British Airways jet from the Cuban capital Havana.[3] This event shocked Cuba and even saw a personal investigation by then Cuban President Fidel Castro.[citation needed]