On Monday, Lila Downs was awarded the La Mar de Músicas Prize in Cartagena, southeastern Spain, in recognition of her three decades of uniting the music and cultures of the United States and Mexico, as well as folklore and jazz.
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The award, a work by Cartagena sculptor Fernando Sáenz de Elorrieta, was presented by the city’s mayor, Noelia Arroyo, at the 31st edition of the world music festival. Upon receiving the award, the artist expressed: “La Mar de Músicas, a great concept, because we come from the sea and to the sea we will always return.”
After the award ceremony, the winner of a Grammy and six Latin Grammys performed at the Parque Torres Auditorium, a venue overlooking the bay of Cartagena and its Roman theater.
During the concert, Downs delivered her message of advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples and showcased her artistic talent. The singer kicked off her set with the Colombian cumbia “La Campanera” and combined traditional Latin American songs, such as “La Tortolita,” “Urge,” and “El Último Trago,” with her own compositions like “Conjuro,” “Dos Corazones,” “Cambias Mi Mundo,” and “Tumba 7.”
One of the most vibrant moments of the performance came with her rendition of the iconic “La Llorona,” accompanied by Portuguese singer Carminho and Andalusian artist El Nieto Manuel. Towards the end of the night, her compatriot Silvana Estrada joined her to sing “Zapata Se Queda.”
Os esperamos en #LaMardeMúsicas
https://t.co/0GmOvkNq2f
— La Mar de Músicas (@mardemusicasct) July 17, 2026
The text reads, “With a wonderful musical, literary, cinematic, and artistic program where the whole world fits in one of the most beautiful times of the year in this land”
The artist, who performed for the first time in Spain in 2002 at this same festival, paid tribute to its founder, Paco Martín: “I had the pleasure of meeting him; he was a very brave person, a lover of music, and we will continue singing, defending his legacy, with all the pride and respect we carry within us.”
Interacting with the audience, the singer championed the greatness of the American continent, criticizing “those who dare to call only their own country ‘America.'” Downs, who will receive the 2026 Latin Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award this November, closed the celebration with songs such as “La cumbia del mole,” “Cariñito,” “El beso,” and “Mezcalito.”
The 31st edition of La Mar de Músicas, which began on July 17, will feature a total of 45 concerts until the 25th, 21 of them free, and a dozen of them featuring artists from Ecuador.
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