One of the leading voices of Mexican popular music has joined IICA’s campaign to turn the political and social spotlight on the agrifood sector and rurality in the era of Covid-19.
Mexico City, 19 May 2020 (IICA). Mexican singer Lila Downs has joined the campaign of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to recognize farmers and food chain workers, whose daily efforts are ensuring the production, transportation, marketing and supply of food during the Covid-19 pandemic.
With a voice that celebrates her Mexican and indigenous heritage, as well as the regional music of Oaxaca, Lila Downs is a singer, performer, composer, record producer and actress who sings in the various indigenous languages of her country, including Mixtec and Zapotec, Mayan, Purépecha and Náhuatl.
This affinity to her culture was evident in 2014, when she collaborated with Nina Pastori and Soledad Pastorutti to release the album “La raíz de mi tierra” (The roots of my land), which earned two Latin Grammy nominations for Best Folk Album and Record of the Year, with “Raíz” finally copping the award for Best Folk Album.
On May 15, Downs released the new single “El Silencio”, meaning “The Silence” – a song born out of reflections on Covid-19 and the fears and concerns that have disrupted everyday life amidst this pandemic.
In her new song, she muses that, “These are moments of silence/ times of curfew/ nights of coyotes and moonlight/ two strong ‘piques’ and a promise.
The IICA initiative has already brought together the work of renowned artists from various countries in the hemisphere, who have selflessly contributed to the POPULAR MUSIC TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO WORK DAY TO DAY TO PUT FOOD ON OUR TABLES.
Through the campaign, IICA is seeking to direct greater political and social attention to those who keep the agroindustrial chain functioning, as well as to the farmers who are guaranteeing our food supply at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic is challenging the world.
Gilberto Gil, León Gieco, Guadalupe Urbina, Adriana Calcanhotto, Carlinhos Brown, Gustavo Santaolalla, Mart’nália, Maria Luiza Jobim, Tony Belloto, Paulo Miklos, Erika Ender, Grupo JAYAC, Teresa Parodi, Soledad Villamil, Víctor Heredia, Adriana Varela, Hilda Lizarazu, Lidia Borda, Gustavo Grobocopatel, La Charo (Tonolec), Willy Piancioli (Los Tipitos), Agustín Ronconi (Arbolito), Alejandro Davio (Mundo Alas), Anabella Zoch, Peteco Carabajal, Dolores Solá, Acho Estol (La Chicana), Ana Prada and Pata Kramer are just some of the performers who have selflessly and generously contributed to the IICA campaign.
Enjoy Lila Downs’ performance by clicking here:
Various organizations in several countries have also come on board this tribute spearheaded by IICA. In Argentina, it has received the backing of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries; the Ministry of Culture of the Nation; The Ministry of Social Development; the anti-hunger program – Plan Argentina contra el Hambre; the Secretariat of Media and Public Communication; the public broadcast entity, Contenidos Públicos Sociedad del Estado and the arts foundation, Fondo Nacional de las Artes:
On the other hand, UNESCO Brazil and the Brazilian Association of Supermarkets (ABRAS) have both endorsed and become a part of this campaign.
Access the concert by the Argentinian performers who have joined this campaign by clicking on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
IICA will continue to publish the contributions of the artists participating in the campaign on all its digital platforms and on those of its partners in this initiative, using the following hashtags on social media:
#GRACIAS
#HEROESYHEROINAS
#PORLOSALIMENTOSENNUESTRAMESA
#OBRIGADO #OBRIGADA
#HERÓISEHEROÍNAS
#PORALIMENTOSEMNOSSAMESA
#THANKS
#HEROESANDHEROINES
#FORFOODONOURTABLES
More information:
Institutional Communication Division, IICA.
comunicacion.institucional@
