Story perspectives

Totó La Momposina Dies of Heart Attack, Age 85

5/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

Totó La Momposina died of a myocardial infarction in Celaya, Mexico on May 17, 2026, at age 85.
Family, the Ministry of Culture and President Gustavo Petro confirmed her death after months in palliative care.
Her body will be flown to Colombia on May 27 for a tribute at the Capitolio Nacional.
She gained worldwide fame with the 1993 album La Candela Viva and won the 2011 Latin Grammy Record and Song of the Year for “Latinoamérica.”

History

Historical Context

The 1997 release of Buena Vista Social Club, produced by Ry Cooder and selling over one million copies, sparked a global revival of traditional Cuban and broader Latin American music. That resurgence set a precedent for honoring folk icons, a pattern echoed in 2026 when Colombia’s Ministry of Culture and President Gustavo Petro organized a national tribute to Afro-Colombian legend Totó La Momposina, intensifying calls for state support of her musical heritage.

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Story summary

Totó La Momposina died of a myocardial infarction in Celaya, Mexico on May 17, 2026, at age 85.
Family, the Ministry of Culture and President Gustavo Petro confirmed her death after months in palliative care.
Her body will be flown to Colombia on May 27 for a tribute at the Capitolio Nacional.
She gained worldwide fame with the 1993 album La Candela Viva and won the 2011 Latin Grammy Record and Song of the Year for “Latinoamérica.”

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