Tania Libertad facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tania Libertad
Tania Libertad performing at the Latin Grammys 2014.
Background information
Birth name	Tania Libertad de Souza Zúñiga
Born	(1952-10-24) October 24, 1952 (age 72) Zaña, Lambayeque Region, Peru
Origin	Lima, Peru
Genres	Ballad, Bolero, Música criolla, Nueva Trova, Mariachi
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	1959 - present
Labels	Sony Music

Tania Libertad de Souza Zúñiga (born October 24, 1952), known as Tania Libertad, is a famous singer from Peru and Mexico. She is known for her "World Music" style, which mixes different sounds from around the globe.

Tania Libertad has received many important awards. UNESCO named her an Ambassador for Peace. The Peruvian government honored her as a "Comendadora," and the Brazilian government gave her the "Order of Rio Branco." In 2009, she won the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for her amazing musical career. She has released more than 44 albums and sold over 12 million copies! Her music is popular in North and South America, Europe, and Africa. She has performed concerts in many countries, including France, Spain, the United States, Peru, Brazil, and Mexico. In 2012, she celebrated 50 years as a performer with two sold-out shows in Mexico City, starting a big tour across Latin America.

Early Life and First Songs

Tania Libertad in concert at the Feria Internacional de Libro in Guadalajara in November 2005

Tania Libertad was born in Zaña, a small town in northern Peru. She grew up in Chiclayo, a bigger city nearby. Her mother was a nurse, and her father was a police officer. She grew up with eight older brothers, which made her feel like she was in a very male-dominated home.

She first sang on stage when she was just five years old in Chiclayo. Her parents worked long hours, so they didn't know she was singing at first. In her early shows, she sang traditional Peruvian and Mexican songs, like waltzes and boleros. When her father found out about her talent, he asked her to sing songs he had written. She quickly learned to tell the difference between good and bad music. She also learned many songs from the radio, including traditional and rock music. By age seven, she was singing in competitions, and by eight, she knew 300 boleros! She even started making records when she was nine.

Starting a Music Career

When Tania Libertad was a teenager, she moved to Lima, the capital of Peru. She sang in nightclubs there, and her father helped manage her career. Soon, she got a contract with RCA Records and had her first national hit song in Peru called "La Contamanina." Even though she was busy with music, she convinced her father to let her study at the university. She studied science and engineering related to fishing, but she never used this degree later. However, she says her university time helped her meet other people who loved art and were interested in social issues, like anti-war movements.

During this time, Tania became very interested in Afro-Peruvian music, which was popular in her home region. The Peruvian government even supported this music by creating an Afro-Peruvian ballet company. Tania started to feel uncomfortable singing in nightclubs because of unfair treatment towards women and people of color. This made her want to sing songs that talked about social issues. So, she began performing in universities and places where workers' unions met. As a teenager, her father became very protective and wanted her to stop singing. But when she was 20, she left home for two weeks until her father agreed to let her sing full-time.

Moving to Mexico and International Success

Tania Libertad with Los Tigres del Norte on 17 May 2007

In 1976, Tania Libertad started traveling to other countries, like Cuba. She was inspired by the music and political ideas she found there. Her new style of music wasn't as popular in Peru, so she decided to move to Mexico. She arrived with no money but soon connected with other Latin American artists who had left their home countries for political reasons. She found her first job at the Blanquita Theatre in Mexico City. There, she signed a contract with PolyGram and sang different styles like trova, Afro-Peruvian music, salsa, and bolero. In 1985, she released her first album of boleros. She has lived in Mexico ever since and has performed in over 20 countries around the world.

Tania Libertad sings at the Cultural Festival in Zacatecas on 13 April 2006

Throughout her career, Tania Libertad has shared the stage with many famous international artists. Some of these include Mercedes Sosa, Joan Manuel Serrat, Silvio Rodríguez, Pablo Milanés, Vicente Fernández, Juan Gabriel, and Plácido Domingo.

Musical Influences

Even though Tania Libertad is not of African descent, she is greatly inspired by Afro-Peruvian music. This music comes from the area of Peru where she was born, which has many descendants of African slaves. Her albums Costa Negra (2003) and Color Negro (2004) are recordings of these Afro-Peruvian songs.

She also loves Afro-Antillean music, which has influenced her songs that feature Trova and Nueva canción styles. She has even created her own versions of songs by Silvio Rodriguez. Tania has also worked closely with the famous musician Armando Manzanero.

About Her Life

Tania Libertad is married to a businessman, and they have a son. They live in Mexico City.

She sees herself as a "citizen of the world." She believes in the ideas of Simón Bolívar, who wanted Latin America to be united without borders. She is against war, but she doesn't like to be called a "protest singer."

Her Albums

Tania Libertad has recorded 44 albums and sold more than 12 million copies!

See also

In Spanish: Tania Libertad para niños