Colombia and the world mourn the death of Totó La Momposina, an icon of folk music

Published at: 19/05/2026 03:12 PM

Colombia and the international cultural scene mourn after learning about the death of Sonia Bazanta Vides, universally known as Totó La Momposina. The emblematic singer and songwriter, considered the heart and the greatest defender of the musical identity and the Afro-indigenous roots of the Colombian Caribbean, died at 85 years of age.

The death occurred last Sunday, May 17 in Mexico, the country where he resided due to various ailments that had affected his health in recent years. However, the news was officially announced this Tuesday, May 19, through a heartfelt statement issued by their children Marco Vinicio, Angélica María and Eurídice Salomé Oyaga Bazanta.

In the text, the family expressed their deep pain over the physical departure of their mother, stressing that she was surrounded by her family and recalling her joy, wisdom, generosity and the immense legacy with which she marked the lives of countless people.

Born on August 15, 1948 in Talaigua, department of Bolívar, a fluvial island historically linked to Mompox, from which he derived his famous nickname, Totó grew up in an environment that had to constantly move away from the social violence of the time. At the age of 16, in 1964, he formed his first musical group, beginning an uninterrupted trajectory that extended for generations.

Throughout her artistic career, La Momposina dedicated herself to the preservation, dissemination and internationalization of traditional rhythms such as Bullerengue, cumbia and porro. His tireless work not only kept alive the flame of Southern sound traditions, but also consolidated these genres as fundamental pillars of Caribbean cultural wealth, serving as inspiration for new artists around the world who today mourn their transition to immortality.

Mazo News Team