Renowned West-African singer, Cesaria Evora passed away on Saturday in her native country of Cape Verde of cardiorespiratory insufficiency and hypertension. Credited for putting Cape Verde on the world map, Evora was often known as the “Barefoot Diva”. She always sang barefoot, a way for her to express her solidarity with poor women all over the world. She was born in Mindela, on the island of San Vincente, in 1941, as one of the seven children in a fisherman’s family. After her father died, when she was 7, she was temporarily placed in an orphanage due to the fact that her mother could not make ends meet. Known as an avid liquor drinker and smoker, the singer had been dealing with heart problems for the last four years. She formally retired in September on account of her health issues. Cesaria Evora sang in Portuguese, French and a Creole language indigenous to Cape Verde. Though becoming successful only late in life (her major breakthrough occurred in 1988, in France, where her debut album, La Diva aux Pieds Nus, became commercially successful), she relentlessly toured the world bringing fame and pride to her native country. The President of Cape Verde, Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca declared two days of national mourning to celebrate the life of one of the greatest African singer in recent times. May she rest in peace. I posted a couple of videos for those readers who might not have heard of Cesaria Evora.

Cesaria Evora – Besame Mucho

Cesaria Evora and Salif Keita – Yamore