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.
Rosa
Totó La Momposina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sobre la vida regando flores la llamare rosa de mis amores
Lo que traigo es mi pregon
Rosa que linda eres,
Rosa que linda eres tu
Rosa la mas hermosa
Rosa tu eres la diosa
Rosa que linda eres tu
Rosa las hermosa
Rosa tu eres la diosa
Rosa que linda eres
Rosa que linda eres tu
Rosa chambakulera
Rosa de malagana
Rosa que linda eres
Rosa que linda eres tu
Rosa la mas hermosa
Rosa tu eres la diosa
The lyrics to Totó La Momposina's "Rosa" are an ode to a beautiful woman, referred to as "rosa," which translates to "rose" in Spanish. The song depicts this woman as the most beautiful flower, regally standing above all others. The singer proclaims that the woman is the "rosa of my loves" and announces her beauty through their "pregon," or call to the public. The repetition of the phrase "rosa que linda eres tu" emphasizes the singer's admiration for this woman.
The use of the word "diosa" or "goddess" adds a deeper layer of appreciation for the subject of the song, as she is seen as a powerful and divine figure. The references to different types of roses, such as "chambakulera" and "malagana," also adds to the imagery of this woman as a beautiful flower in bloom.
Overall, "Rosa" is a celebration of feminine beauty and power, as seen through the lens of a beautiful flower. The repetitive chorus and simple melody serve to emphasize the singer's admiration for the subject of the song, and the language used adds to the poetic imagery.
Line by Line Meaning
De las flores la mas hermosa eres tu mi linda rosa
You are the most beautiful flower of them all, my lovely rose.
Sobre la vida regando flores la llamare rosa de mis amores
I will call you the rose of my love, as you spread beauty throughout life.
Lo que traigo es mi pregon
What I bring is my proclamation.
Rosa que linda eres,
Rose, how beautiful you are.
Rosa que linda eres tu
Rose, you are so beautiful.
Rosa la mas hermosa
Rose, the most beautiful one.
Rosa tu eres la diosa
Rose, you are the goddess.
Rosa las hermosa
The beautiful rose.
Rosa chambakulera
Chambakulera rose.
Rosa de malagana
Malagana rose.
Writer(s): emilia herrera
Contributed by Camden J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.