Known affectionately as La Negra (the Black One) due to her dark hair and skin, Sosa was dubbed “the voice of the silent majority” for championing the poor and fighting for political freedom. Her version of Violeta Parra’s “Gracias a la Vida” (”Thanks to Life”) became an anthem for leftists around the world in the 1970s and 1980s when she was forced into exile and her recordings were banned.
Her undisputed talent, her honesty and her profound convictions leave a great legacy to future generations. She was a giant of contemporary Latin American music and will be sorely missed.