After the death of Diomedes Díaz, his musical legacy is still alive and also his family stories. Among the many voices that have emerged since their departure, one of the most prominent is that of Sielva María Díaz, a woman who had to go through a long legal way to be recognized as daughter of the vallenato idol.
“Diomedes Díaz dies and they send me DNA tests,” said Sielva María. Although she was already known by the other children of the artist, who identified her as “the Venezuelan daughter”, it was not until after her death in December 2013 that the true legal process began to enter the group of heirs.
Sielva María Díaz told how the recognition process was
After a meeting among the 18 children recognized at that time, the decision to ask for DNA tests to all those who said they were children of the singer was taken. “It was successful because there were more than 10 who said they were children from Diomedes Díaz”Sielva recalled.
Without a Colombian card and born in Venezuela, Sielva’s situation was complicated. However, thanks to the fact that her mother had Colombian nationality, she was able to access citizens and, with it, initiate the legal process.
“They informed me that I had to look for a lawyer so that they could include me in the succession process.”he explained.
Despite his desire to know the truth, economic obstacles soon appeared. The DNA test cost 300,000 pesos, a sum that Sielva could not pay at that time.
“We didn’t have. We collected. We asked the family, friends, neighbors,” he said. Finally, his brother Elder completed the flight money so she could attend. “The day arrived and I was the first to arrive.”
Although many claimed to be children of the singer, only four people attended the test: Sielva, Elder, María Alexandra and Christopher.
“How? If there were more than 10 people saying that they were children from Diomedes Díaz and my dad gave them money, why did they not come now?” He asked surprised.
The moment of the test was tense. “I asked my mother: ‘Surely I am daughter of Diomedes Díaz? Tell me now or shut up forever.”
DNA test came out positive
According to Sielva, there are two versions about the origin of the artist’s DNA sample: one affirms that he was taken from his body in the morgue; The other, which was obtained through “Mama Vila”, her mother.
Three months later, he received the news that would change his life. “The lawyer calls me and tells me: ‘One of you came out negative.’ I said: ‘Please, doctor, find out who came out negative.”
They were days of uncertainty, until he finally received the final call: “Sielva, calm down, because you left positive. You are daughter of Diomedes Díaz with 9.9% proven.”
“After my daughter’s birth, that has been the happiest moment of my life. Although they had told me, that I had shared with my dad, that he looked me in the eye and said ‘You are my daughter,” he confessed.
Sielva also revealed the difficulties he lived in his childhood for not having grown next to his father. “At school they made me too much bullying. I didn’t grew up with my dad, I saw him occasionally,” he recalled.
Today, his legal name is Sielva María Díaz. With 21 officially recognized children, the Board chief left a legacy that goes far beyond his music.
Read more: Rafael Santos Díaz shares emotional memory of his father Diomedes Díaz.
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