Colombian community mourns the man who gave 'Londombia' its nickname

In London's Colombian community, this is a June of mixed emotions.

On one hand, there's the fever-pitch excitement about the team's play in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

But tempering all the soccer talk is the recent passing of an "icon" among London Colombians, a man who published a popular web newsletter devoted to the community and who is believed to be the first person to coin the term "Londombia."

That man was José Briceño Medina, who died on June 3. He was 76.

For years, Briceño published Colombian En London, an online newsletter devoted to news about the Colombian community in London and abroad. 

Juan Hernadez owns Hernandez Variety on Thompson Road in south London. 

His store is a regular stop for Spanish-speaking Londoners with roots in Central and South America. It's a place where customers can pick up some empanadas, catch up on what's happening in the community and send money and packages back home. 

Hernadez, who himself hails from El Salvador, says Briceño will be missed as both a friend and someone whose work on the newsletter provided an important service to the community. 

"He was well known, not just in London, but everywhere," said Hernandez. "We don't have anyone else like him anymore here." 

On most days, loading Colombian En London into a web browser would bring up news about London's Colombian community, which numbers more than 10,000. 

But since Briceño's death, the page simply displays his picture and a message in Spanish: "You will always be in our hearts. Thank you very much." 

Liliana Lara was born in Colombia but has lived in London for the past 15 years. 

She says Briceño was the first to use the term "Londombia" to describe the community. 

"Jose was one of the first Colombians working in the local media in our community," she said. "A lot of people read him. And he was always involved in events and being present in the community. So he was an icon."

And so the World Cup celebration will go on without Briceño, but Hernandez says his friend won't soon be forgotten. 

"He is still here with us enjoying the Colombian team playing in the World Cup." 

• Staff at CBC London have adopted Colombia as the team we're supporting in this year's World Cup.