In the midst of music from the Pacific, a posthumous tribute was held in the Cali Council to the singer and actress Leonor González Mina, who died this Wednesday at the age of 90.
The body of the ‘Big Black’, as she was known, was taken to the council premises where some family members and followers were present.
Some of the highlights was her lifelong friend and manager María del Socorro Vallejo, as well as the musicians and arrangers Hugo Candelario González, who collaborated with the artist on many of her albums.
“It showed the beauty of the country, in what has to do with its folklore, its music and taking it to international levels and that allowed them to get to know our country in a different way. Activism was there because it sang about violence, He sang about racial discrimination, he sang about injustice towards women, he sang about everything and that generated that awareness and that construction of a new Colombia. I will remember his discipline, his love, his patience, his affection, he really was a person who the only thing he expressed was love and affection to everyone,” said his son Juan Camilo Cabezas González.
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The artist, in addition to standing out for performing Colombian and Pacific music, became visible for her performances and political leadership. She was originally from Robles, Jamundí district, to that of Valle del Cauca, a town where it is an example to follow.
“For us as a family and as artists it is very important to continue the legacy of Leonor González Mina, because she was strict as an artist and worked hard for artists and for black people in Colombia. She was a woman who raised her voice and paved the way for all of us to be here. So we would like them to remember her with a big smile, with a melodious voice that did not go out of tune, that imitated birds. A studious woman and we want it to be that way so that the legacy continues and that black folklore and the folklore of the Pacific, of Cauca, do not die,” said her grandson and also artist Camilo Zamora.
Towards the end of the plenary session of the Cali Council this Thursday, there was a minute of silence for the artist and then the councilors present presented the resolution of mourning to their son.
The body of Leonor González Mina will be taken on the night of this November 28th for her viewing, in room number 6 of the Jardines del memoria funeral home.in the San Fernando neighborhood, south of Cali. The departure of the place will be tomorrow, Friday at 3:00 pm and one hour later A mass will be held in the chapel of the Jardines del memoria cemetery to say goodbye to the singer.
For its part, by decree from the Government Two days of mourning have been declared in which the flag of Valle del Cauca will remain raised at half-mast in public buildings, to honor his memory.
Leonor González, in life
She was born in 1934, she studied nursing, but her love for singing and dancing first led her to be educated at the Antonio María Valencia Conservatory. and later to the capital of the Republic, where he shone with his voice and his style, projecting an international career with his compositions, especially with songs from my land and my race, breaking borders and setting a different course for other local artists.
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Songs like ‘My Buenaventura’, ‘My name is cumbia’ and ‘the Merry Fisherman’, They are part of the contribution that González Mina made to national folklore.
Also knowledgeable about the customs and culture of the Colombian Pacific, the Great Black Woman of Colombia, Leonor González Mina had leading roles in television series such as Azúcar, la Negra Chambimbe and Crónica de una muerte anunciada, in addition to being part of international choreographies.
In politics He stood out as a representative to the Chamber, in 1998, raising the flags of the Afro community and the right to private property, Given the experience lived in Jamundí, when she was young forces outside the law wanted to strip her and her family of their home.
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