WILLEMSTAD – Sharrel ‘Adjatay’ Denisia has won the title of Kantadó di Mayo 2026 for the third consecutive year with the song Mi ku mi Limania Koté Koté, reaffirming his dominance in one of Curaçao’s most important traditional music festivals.
The victory was announced during the final of the É Kantadó Mayo festival, held at Kunuku di Shon Mi, where a large audience gathered to witness the performances. The event also attracted a wide television audience, highlighting its continued popularity across the island.
A total of thirty finalists took the stage during the evening, supported by what organizers described as a “sublime” musical ensemble. From this group, twelve finalists were selected across various traditional categories, including Bena Mayo, Orírí, Serekobi, and Omuja.
In addition to Denisia’s overall win, several other awards were presented. Michèlangelo Martina was named most popular artist and best performer, while Rachid Felida received awards for best voice and best male costume.
Sorayda Sint Jacobs won the award for best lyrics with the song Sak’e na mal òrdu, and Marvin ‘Pikachu’ Snijders was recognized for best arrangement.
The winning composition Mi ku mi Limania Koté Koté was written by Furgell Wijngaarden and Elia Isenia, with Denisia contributing to the melody. The arrangement was handled by Roysten Hato, with musical accompaniment provided by Orírí.
According to the organizers, this year’s edition once again demonstrated the importance of the festival in preserving and promoting Curaçao’s musical heritage and cultural identity.