She brings together the music of three races, indigenous porro, puya and gaita with Afro-Latin cumbia, mapale and sexteto. She was born in the northern village of Talaigua, Colombia, on the island of Mompos. As its name suggests, Talaigua was once an Indigenous land. The Spanish invasion five hundred years ago forced the population inland. "The music I play has its roots in mixed race," she explains. "The flutes are pre-columbian, the drums of course are from Africa, and the guitar from the conquistadors." However, she points out that the Spanish guitar actually has its roots in Moorish Africa.
If many of her songs sound a bit Cuban, it is for good reason. Through the 19th century, there were huge waves of Cuban immigration along the northern Caribbean Colombian shores near Baranquilla. These slaves brought with them Cuban music, which led to the development of the sexteto, Colombia's cousin to Cuba's son.
"However, I don't think of it as 'folklore'," adds Totó. "To me, folklore means something that is dead, in a museum. Traditional music, music from the old days is alive." There probably isn't a single person who has done more to revitalize the music of northern Colombia's shores. In 1993, she recorded the landmark album, "La Candela Viva" for Peter Gabriel's RealWorld label and ever since has been busy performing at the world's top music festivals. She is a rare performer whose energetic and passionate recordings capture the energy of her live performances. With a fiery voice and a remarkable spontaneous wit, whether she is leading flute and percussion driven porros or brass section and guitar led Afro-Latin cumbias and sextetos, Toto La Momposina uses her torrid vocal power to make sure that her audience is out of their seats and onto the dance floor, ready to get a taste of some of the most evocative music on the planet.
Totó la Momposina has two Latin Grammy awards from four nominations for her collaboration with the urban group Calle 13 on their song "Latinoamérica", receiving in 2013 the lifetime achievement award.
Oye Manita
Totó La Momposina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ay de origen Bantú
Que con sus pregones alegraba los rincones
En el barrio chambacú fui a visitar una familia
Ay de origen Bantú
Que con sus pregones alegraba los rincones
Su vida la entregó a la piragua y la quemada
Y los ricos no escuchaban
Su vida la entregó a la piragua y la quemada
Y a los turistas conquistaba
Y los ricos no escuchaban
Sube, sa sa sa sa sa!
Estefania con su canto
Alegraba Cartagena, a la Boquilla y Malagana
El playon del blanco y en la arena
Estefania con su canto
Alegraba Cajtagena, a la Boquilla y Malagana
El playon del blanco y en la arena
O chambacú sudor de negros
historia de esclavos
Que como tu estefania
Escribieron la historia mía
O chambacú sudor de negros
historia de esclavos
Que como tu estefania
Escribieron la historia mía
Oye manita
Tú eres mi hermana
Tú eres mi hermana
Hasta Malagana
Oye manita
Tú eres mi hermana
Tú eres mi hermana
Hasta Malagana
Oye manita
Tú eres mi hermana
Tú eres mi hermana
Hasta Malagana
Oye manita
Tú eres mi hermana
Tú eres mi hermana
Hasta Malagana
Oye manita
Tú eres mi hermana
Tú eres mi hermana
Hasta Malagana
Oye mi verso, en el mundo
Hay Estefania
Oye mi canto
Oye mi verso
Hay Estefania
The song "Oye Manita" by Totó La Momposina talks about visiting a family in the neighborhood of Chambacú who are of Bantú origin. The family is known for their singing and lively spirit, and they are able to bring joy to the corners of their community through their chants. The song makes reference to Estefania, who is known for her singing and ability to bring joy to Cartagena, Malagana, and other nearby places. The song talks about how Estefania dedicated her life to selling piraguas and burnt sugar, and how she was able to attract tourists to her business. However, the rich did not pay attention to her or listen to her singing.
The lyrics also mention Chambacú as a place full of history and stories of enslaved people who, like Estefania, helped shape the history of the community. The song ends with the repeated phrases "Oye manita, tú eres mi hermana" which means "Listen sister, you are my sister" and shows the close bond of sisterhood and community within the neighborhood of Chambacú. The song reminds us of the important role that music and community play in creating joy and building connections between individuals and their history.
Line by Line Meaning
En el barrio chambacú fui a visitar una familia Ay de origen Bantú Que con sus pregones alegraba los rincones
I went to visit a Bantu family in the Chambacú neighborhood, who used their songs to bring joy to every corner
Su vida la entregó a la piragua y la quemada Y a los turistas conquistaba Y los ricos no escuchaban
She devoted her life to boat rides and burning sugarcane, captivating tourists, but the rich didn't pay attention
Estefania con su canto Alegraba Cartagena, a la Boquilla y Malagana El playon del blanco y en la arena
Estefania with her singing brought joy to Cartagena, Boquilla, Malagana, to the beach and the sand
O chambacú sudor de negros historia de esclavos Que como tu estefania Escribieron la historia mía
Chambacú, sweat of black people, a history of slaves, who like you Estefania, wrote my history
Oye manita Tú eres mi hermana Tú eres mi hermana Hasta Malagana
Listen sister, you are my sister, my sister until Malagana
Oye mi verso, en el mundo Hay Estefania Oye mi canto Oye mi verso Hay Estefania
Listen to my verse, in the world there is Estefania, listen to my singing, listen to my verse, there is Estefania
Writer(s): Sonia Bazanta
Contributed by Kaelyn K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dubal Papamija Muñoz
Los sonidos son mágicos, Toto, es incomparable sus letras e interpretación me hacen sentir súper orgulloso de ser Colombiano 🇨🇴
Alice Noelia
La cuatrista es de Puerto Rico 😍❤ ... la reconocí porque estudió en la misma institución de música que yo. Que orgullo que haya llegado tan lejos. Boricua hasta en la luna 🎉
g sanabria
Cada vez que llego a esta canción, siento nostalgia de mi amada Colombia y de todos insignes compositores e interpretes como Toto, con su energía nos llenan de amor por esa tierra que hoy esta lejana.
holisticmaya
Me encanta!!! Yo viajaba a Colombia el año pasado, es un país realmente increible. Saludos desde Quebec!
Виталий С
Классная музыка 🔥🔥🔥
The Screambox
This woman is phenomenal! Abrazos de Grecia!
Liah Ahmyo
Es siempre maravilloso volver a ver este video! Que buena energia, me encanta!
Jesu R. Araujo
Ese sonar de los tambores de nuestra tierra acompañados de esa grandiosa voz de Totó. Excelente montaje. Raíces de Colombia.
elconocido 94
Colombian cumbia in Berklee...I LOVE IT <3
Paul Ferguson
Superb playing and singing! I want to be there live!