Sikuris Sin Fronteras – Panpipes without Borders – play at the Titanic Cafe

BOLIVIAN musicians played together at a cafe in Holloway Road to commemorate their compatriot, 75-year-old Fredi Rivero, who died after a shocking attack in Seven Sisters Road last month.

The Titanic Cafe hosted a remembrance day on Friday for friend and “family man” Mr Rivero, where north London’s Bolivian community shared salteñas – baked empanadas from the country’s south – and played traditional songs and instruments in his honour.

Mr Rivero died in hospital on February 28, the day after he was allegedly assaulted by three girls aged 14, 16 and 17, who have been charged with manslaughter.

Fredi Rivero

Musician Maritza Venegas told the Tribune: “We all want justice. Not a lot is spoken in the media, it’s only bits and bobs on social media. Regardless of if you are Bolivian or not, it’s sad, it should not happen.”

Mr Rivero was well known in Holloway, including at his local pub The Hercules, where the community are organising a raffle to help his family pay for funeral costs. Ms Venegas explained that the group of musicians, Sikuris Sin Fronteras – Panpipes without Borders – represent three Latin American countries with a shared culture that pre-dates Spanish colonisation.

“It’s not just the sudden tragic death of Fredi,” she added. “It’s also about keeping the culture alive no matter what, especially in moments like this. It’s the sense of community that we have and we are very proud of.”

Customers enjoy the event in Holloway Road

She explained that this community spirit is encapsulated by the concept of ayni – roughly translated as “today is for me and tomorrow might be for you” – which speaks to the importance of mutual care and reciprocity. Indeed, this was the second time in a week that north London’s Latin American musicians had gathered in memory of a community member who has died in distressing circumstances.

Last Tuesday many of the same panpipe players performed at an event celebrating Raymi Saldaña Rojas, 14, who grew up in Seven Sisters Road and drowned last summer while on holiday with a friend’s family in Amsterdam.

At that event Raymi’s mother, Jeanette Rojas, told the Tribune: “Many of the people in the community, they feel like it could be them. They want to know how it could be happen, why wasn’t he saved.”

Raymi’s family are raising money to help fund legal fees for an inquest into his death.