Home / Arts and Entertainment / Colombian 'Queen of Cumbia' Totó La Momposina Dies at 85
Colombian 'Queen of Cumbia' Totó La Momposina Dies at 85
19 May
Summary
- Renowned Colombian folk singer Totó La Momposina died at 85.
- She was a global ambassador for Caribbean folk traditions.
- Her career spanned decades, influencing contemporary music.
Totó La Momposina, a revered vocalist and global ambassador for Colombian Caribbean folk traditions, passed away at 85 in Mexico. She died on Tuesday, May 19, after a prolonged struggle with neurocognitive health complications, having spent several months in palliative care. Born Sonia Bazanta Vides in 1940, she dedicated her life to preserving and promoting the rhythms and oral traditions of Colombia's coast.
Her career began in the 1950s, and by the late 1960s, she led her ensemble, Sus Tambores, which introduced cumbia and bullerengue internationally. A significant moment was accompanying Gabriel García Márquez to the Nobel Prize ceremony in 1982. Her debut album, La Verdolaga, was released in 1983, followed by the landmark 1993 recording La Candela Viva.
La Momposina's contributions were recognized with prestigious awards, including Latin Grammys for 'Latinoamérica' and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. Her 2014 album, El Asunto, earned Grammy nominations. Her music's influence reached contemporary artists like Jay-Z and J Balvin through samples and interpolations.
In 2022, she retired due to aphasia and related conditions impacting her speech and memory. Her final performance was at Colombia's Festival Cordillera, concluding a career that solidified her legacy as the 'Queen of Cumbia' and the 'Voice of Colombia'.
