In a statement cited by Angop, Rogério Praxe said he views the 22-year-old artist's death as an irreparable loss of a fundamental voice in the culture of Bengo province.
The director also extends his condolences to her family, friends, colleagues, and fans.
"To the bereaved family, friends, colleagues, and admirers of the artist, we express our deepest condolences, and we stand in solidarity with all those mourning this premature and painful departure," the statement, cited by Angop, reads.
In turn, the president of UNAC - Bengo S.A. said they received the news of Gracy Criola's death with "immense pain and sadness."
"We received with immense pain and sadness the news of the death of Graciana Criola, a young dreamer full of plans for the future," he said.
"She was someone who closely followed our work and was part of this community. Today, we stand in solidarity with her family and friends in this time of profound grief," he added.
Gracy Criola was born on June 7, 2003, in Lubango, Huíla. According to Angop, the young woman began her singing career in 2016 and, although she hasn't recorded an album, she leaves a legacy of songs and videos on digital platforms, such as "Brilho," "Smoke," and "Deja Vu," among others.
