25 expat voices: Umair Khan

In their own words

By Inside México Original Print Publication: February, 2009

For the "25 Mexicans You Should Know" edition of Inside México (November 2007) our editorial team sat in a room for hours, proposing and debating names of candidates, eventually whittling the list to a mix of well and less-well-known figures, each illuminating some aspect of this country.

For "25 Expats," we decided to do something different. We put the word out. We invited you, our readers, to tell us who to highlight. E-mailed nominations poured in from around the country, and several of you even called.

This inaugural group of 2009 finalists is a diverse bunch in terms of where they are from, where they live and what they do. You've helped us round up the expat equivalent of the "butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker." In this case, however, it is the activist, the developer and the expat filmmaker...and the dog rescuer, the theater founder, the birder, and the book store owner. The list goes on.

The common thread running through each selection is the effort these people make to build community between Expats and Mexicans. We think that by doing so, they are helping to expand the definition of Mexico. That is what immigrants do.

Expat: Umair Khan

Business: Black Horse

Website: caballonegro.com

Umair Khan.

Originally from: I'm originally from London, although I was born in Karachi, Pakistan, to an Indian father and an Afghan mother.

Lives in: I live in Roma Sur opposite the Mercado de Medellín in Mexico City.

Living in Mexico: Eleven years

Why did you move to Mexico?

By pure chance. My girlfriend at the time wanted to travel and learn a new language. I ended up following her out here. I knew nothing about Mexico when I arrived (except that it hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cups) and I didn't speak any Spanish.

Tell us about the Black Horse.

The Black Horse was born out of a frustration of not being able to hear musical genres that both I and my business partners-a Chilean, a Mexican, and two Scotsmen-all craved: funk, rare-groove, hip-hop, soul, and indie.

We had previously organized funk parties for almost two years at the Tandem Pub in Colonia Cuauhtemoc. Conga players playing side-by-side with DJs was a novel concept at the time, and the parties were a huge success.

However, Colonia Condesa suddenly exploded with a slew of bars that didn't charge cover at the door, and since we charged for our parties, we simply couldn't compete. Before then the bar culture in Mexico City, with a few exceptions, really didn't exist. It was either restaurants or antros (nightclubs), which were two extremes if all you wanted to do was go out for a few drinks and a chat with your friends.

So it seemed the natural conclusion to set up our own bar, and the Condesa proved the popular location. The Black Horse opened in September 2004. We champion live funk bands as much as possible and we never charge at the door.

What other organizations, activities, or hobbies are you involved in here?

Believe it or not there are rugby and cricket leagues in Mexico City which I used to be involved with, but due to the bar all I have time for now is the occasional game of chess and Risk and a walk in the park.

Do you have a specific Mexico "moment" that makes you think, "That's what I love about this place"?

It might sound like a terrible cliché, but waking up on Christmas Day to blue skies and sunshine just made me happy I was here and not in London. I also think Mexican weddings are amazing fun.

What are both the best and the hardest things about being an expat in Mexico?

The rampant bureaucracy and the bribes (whether you're an expat or not). On the flip side, we found a niche market here that never would have presented itself in London.

Bookmark/Search this post with: