Lila Downs has spent three decades bringing together different musical styles and cultures: The United States and Mexico, folk music and jazz, identity and modernity—these are the key elements that have earned her tonight’s La Mar de Músicas Award in Cartagena, in southeastern Spain, in recognition of a lifetime dedicated to promoting art, culture, and cultural fusion.
The artist was the center of one of the most special moments of this 31st edition of the world music festival when she received this award—created by Cartagena-based sculptor Fernando Sáenz de Elorrieta—from the city’s mayor, Noelia Arroyo.
“La Mar de Músicas is a wonderful concept, because we come from the sea and we will always return to it,” said the Mexican artist—a Grammy Award winner and recipient of six Latin Grammy Awards—upon receiving this honor.
After receiving the award on the spectacular stage of the Parque Torres Auditorium—which overlooks Cartagena Bay and its Roman theater—Lila Downs showcased her full vocal range, her message advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples, and her artistic talent.
The singer kicked off the concert with the Colombian cumbia “La campanera” and, as usual, combined traditional Latin American songs with her own original compositions in her set list.
He has performed such popular songs as “La tortolita,” “Urge,” and “El último trago,” as well as his own songs, including “Conjuro,” “Dos corazones,” “Cambias mi mundo,” and “Tumba 7,” among others.
One of the most electrifying moments of the performance took place about halfway through the concert, when the artist performed the iconic “Llorona,” accompanied on stage by Portuguese singer Carminho—who will also be performing at La Mar de Músicas tomorrow, Tuesday—and Andalusian artist El Nieto Manuel.
That wasn’t the only collaboration of the concert: toward the end of the night, her compatriot Silvana Estrada, who also performed yesterday at this world music festival, joined her on stage to sing one of her most popular songs, “Zapata se queda.”
The artist, who performed for the first time in Spain in 2002—at La Mar de Músicas, in fact—spoke fondly of the festival’s founder, Paco Martín, who passed away in 2018.
“I had the pleasure of meeting him; he was a very brave person and a lover of music, and we will continue to sing and uphold his legacy with all the pride and respect we hold within us,” he said.
The singer, who will receive the 2026 Award for Musical Excellence from the Latin Recording Academy this coming November, gave it her all on stage, where she was accompanied by seven musicians.
Interacting with the audience throughout, he did not hesitate to extol the greatness of the American continent, “even though some dare to call only their own country ‘America,’” he criticized.
However, a spirit of celebration set the tone for the entire concert, which closed with the acclaimed songs “La cumbia del mole,” “Cariñito,” “El beso,” and “Mezcalito.”
On this fourth day of the festival, as part of this year’s special focus on Ecuador, the Town Hall Square hosted a free concert by singer-songwriter Paola Navarrete, one of the key figures in the revival of Ecuadorian indie pop over the past decade, with a body of work that ranges from indie pop to electronic music and singer-songwriter styles.
This 31st edition of La Mar de Músicas, which kicked off on July 17, will feature a total of 45 concerts through July 25—21 of which are free—and about ten headlined by artists from Ecuador, according to Agencia EFE.