AceShowbiz - Totó La Momposina, the celebrated Colombian singer and ambassador of Caribbean folk music, passed away at the age of 85 in Mexico after a lengthy struggle with neurocognitive health issues.

The news of her death was confirmed on Tuesday, May 19, by Colombia's Ministry of Culture and her family. Her son, Marcio Vinicio, told Blu Radio that his mother died peacefully after spending several months in palliative care.

Born Sonia Bazanta Vides in 1940, in Talaigua Nuevo near Santa Cruz de Mompós, Totó La Momposina developed a career deeply rooted in the rhythms and oral traditions of Colombia's Caribbean coast. She began performing during the 1950s at local celebrations alongside family members before creating her own group, Sus Tambores, in the late 1960s. This ensemble eventually brought her music to audiences across Europe and Latin America, introducing styles like cumbia and bullerengue far beyond her home country.

Totó La Momposina gained international recognition in 1982 when she accompanied Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez to Stockholm for the award ceremony. She released her debut album, La Verdolaga, in 1983 and later connected with British artist Peter Gabriel while living in France. Through his label, she released the influential album La Candela Viva in 1993, which included the notable track "Curura."

Throughout her life, Totó La Momposina was both a preserver of traditional music and an innovator. She won Latin Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 2011 for "Latinoamérica." In 2013, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Latin Recording Academy. Her 2014 album, El Asunto, received critical acclaim and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Tropical Latin Album, as well as a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album.

Totó La Momposina remains a towering figure in Colombian folk music, celebrated for her dedication to cultural heritage and her influence on global audiences. Her passing marks the end of an era for traditional Colombian music and the Caribbean coastal sound she so passionately represented.