In 57 images, The Associated Press summarized the biggest moments across Latin America in 2015. Everything from Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman clowning the Mexican government with his underground tunnel escape to the recent Argentine presidential election that ended in victory for Mauricio Macri made the cut.
But, also included on the list are images of everyday life – moments that did not garner as much international attention but are still essential to understanding Latin America in 2015.
Below, we picked seven of our favorite images from the AP’s collection, but make sure to check out the rest of the impactful images here.
“In this Feb. 15, 2015, file photo, two boys attend the wake of Renato Garcia, dressed as fictional superhero the Green Lantern and propped up against a wall in his sister’s apartment, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Garcia’s sister explained that she and her brother never discussed funeral wishes, but neighbors and friends suggested dressing him as the comic book superhero.” Photo: Ricardo Arduengo, AP
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“In this Nov. 1, 2015, file photo, candles illuminate children’s tombs in the San Gregorio cemetery during Day of the Dead festivities on the outskirts of Mexico City. In a tradition that coincides with All Saints Day and All Souls Day on Nov. 1 and 2, families decorate the graves of departed relatives with marigolds and candles, and spend the night in the cemetery, eating and drinking as they keep company with their deceased loved ones. At this cemetery, families pay a special tribute to children who have died, on the night of Oct. 31 into the morning of Nov. 1. The following night, families keep vigil at the tombs of adults.” Photo: Esteban Felix/AP
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“In this Sunday, March 29, 2015, file photo, a man from the La Mar district of Ayacucho, sings in Quechua, holding a Peruvian national flag as he performs in the Vencedores de Ayacucho dance festival, in the Acho bullring in Lima, Peru. The different dance troupes that perform during the one-day competition typically bring a representation of Peru’s national flag to assert their nationality as well as their ethnic background.” Photo: Rodrigo Abd, AP
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“This is an 84-photo composite of people, each holding an image of their missing relative. The photographs of the 84 were shot between April and August of 2015 in the city of Iguala and surrounding towns. The world, and even most of Mexico, paid little attention to Iguala until 43 students from a rural teachers’ college disappeared on Sept. 26, 2014. Two months after the students disappeared many other families in the area began coming forward to tell their stories, emboldened by the international attention focused on the missing students. Their message was simple: there are many more missing. They called them “the other disappeared.” The AP interviewed the relatives of 158 of those missing. Only 84 agreed to be photographed because they are still very fearful.” Photo: Dario Lopez-Mills, AP
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“In this March 14, 2015, file photo, farmers walk with their donkeys on a snow covered road in La Cumbre mountain on the outskirts of La Paz, Bolivia.” Photo: Juan Karita, AP
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“In this Sept. 11, 2015, file photo, Marisa Ramirez Gutierrez, standing center, holds still on her throne dressed in the robe of the the “Iyawo,” or bride, alongside a pregnant woman, right, who represents birth, and her mother, who represents a woman who has already given birth, inside her home as part of many initiation ceremonies marking the start of her one-year journey to become a Yoruba priestess in Havana, Cuba. Ramirez’s other initiation rituals include a dip in a river, sitting for one day with a pregnant woman, private rituals with Yoruba priests, a celebratory dinner party with family and friends, praying to the Virgin of Charity and leaving herbal offerings at a local market.” Photo: Ramon Espinosa, AP
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“In this June 27, 2015, file photo, two young men wearing rainbow colored wings march in the annual gay pride parade, past an evangelical church with a sign that reads in Spanish; “Jesus Christ does miracles,” in Lima, Peru.” Photo: Rodrigo Abd, AP
