Náfer Durán Díaz, 1976 Vallenato King, passes away at 93

The municipality of El Paso, Cesar, held funeral services for Náfer Durán Díaz, a prominent vallenato musician and 1976 Vallenato King, who passed away at the age of 93 due to health complications.

During the memorial, local officials and artists called for the Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata to grant the musician a posthumous tribute. El Paso Mayor Jesús Ortiz and singer Poncho Zuleta urged the festival foundation to recognize Durán Díaz’s lifelong contribution to traditional vallenato music, noting that he had not received such a distinction during his lifetime.

Durán Díaz, the brother of the first Vallenato King Alejo Durán, was a key figure in preserving the musical identity of the Cesar region. He was also recognized as a Vallenato King out of competition in 1983.