Farewell to Totó la Momposina

Totó la Momposina, a leading figure in Colombian cumbia, passed away on May 17 in Celaya, Mexico. Her children announced the news this Tuesday, May 19, stating that the cause of death was a myocardial infarction.

In a Facebook post, her family members remembered her as “a woman who, through her voice and extraordinary dedication, carried the culture and memory of the Colombian people to every corner of the globe. Her joy, light, wisdom, talent, generosity, and many other virtues touched the lives of countless people.”

In 2006, our Director of News and Information, Samuel Orozco, interviewed this icon of Afro-Caribbean rhythms as part of the *Encuentro del Canto Popular* (Gathering of Popular Song). Relive the full conversation here.

Photo: Totó la Momposina/Facebook