Gwladfa: New docuseries explores the Welsh history of Patagonia
Stephen Price
A new docuseries is set to hit screens this month which explores the impact of Welsh settlers in Patagonia starring Welsh folk singer, Gwilym Bowen Rhys.
The first episode of travelogue series Gwladfa will air on S4C on Monday 6 January, and will see the musician traveling to Patagonia to discover the history of the Welsh settlers who emigrated there in 1865.
The Welsh language is still alive in many areas, and in the first episode, Gwilym’s journey begins at Puerto Madryn where the Mimosa landed in 1865
Growing acclaim
Gwilym Bowen Rhys is a folk singer and musician from Eryri.
His music combines old melodies and lyrics, intricate guitar arrangements, and a rich powerful voice that effortlessly swings from velveteen sweetness to earthy grit.
He travelled to Patagonia back in 2017 to perform in the Welsh speaking community and returned for this highly anticipated docuseries.
In 1865, Welsh settlers arrived in Patagonia on the converted tea-clipper Mimosa to establish the first Welsh-Argentine settlement, Y Wladfa.
The settlers faced many hardships, including a lack of resources and disagreements over land ownership.
However, they were able to establish several Welsh-language towns and schools, and are credited with making farming possible in the region.
Today, around 50,000 Patagonians have Welsh ancestry, and around 5,000 of them speak the Welsh language.
Welsh is taught in schools and colleges in the region, and there is also a bilingual Welsh–Spanish language school in Trelew.
The region receives regular visits from tourists and youth groups from Wales, and the National Orchestra of Wales has toured Patagonia.
The formal Eisteddfod poetry competitions have been revived, and are now bilingual in Welsh and Spanish.
New album
2025 is set to be a busy one for Gwilym Bowen Rhys, as he readies his new album, Aden, for release on 20 January.
View this post on Instagram
He shared: “Well friends, my new album will be flying out into the world on the 20th of January!
“Aden (wing) is a collection of old and new, of raucous and melancholy, of heartfelt and of silliness, all tied together by a feathery thread.
“I am quite proud of this collection, and am eternally grateful to the people that has helped me make it.”
Gwilym will also be performing across the country in 2025. Follow his Instagram to keep up to date.
Pre-order Aden here.
Watch episode one of Gwladfa on S4c at 8pm on Monday 6 January or stream on S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer – includes subtitles.
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Fascinating journey by those from Wales who migrated to Argentina to escape persecution. The big difference between the Welsh settling in Argentina to the English who went around the world adding countries to their empire portfolio was the Welsh were invited by the Argentinian government to farm and lived alongside native people of Patagonia not waged war as seen it America with the English settlers. I can recall a series a few years ago on S4C a documenting the Welsh in Gaiman, Chubut and how the Welsh language & culture was still important to those still living in the town.… Read more »
It is an incredible history and one that every man, women and child in Cymru should know about. We also need our schools, colleges, universities, businesses and other organisations to support Patagonia and encourage links with them. First off, Welsh Government should encourage more travel – from Cardiff Airport? – to Patagonia. Having been on two occasions it is an incredible experience, especially to witness an Eisteddfod or share a cultural evening where you’ll hear Argentine children and young people sing Calon Lan and Yma o Hyd with gusto and immense pride
Flights could be chartered by anyone who wants to organise it.