She was born in 1941 in Cape Verde. She is the daughter of a cook who had seven children and a father who passed away when she was only seven. She began to sing in the bars of her native city, Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, during her youth, but her big opportunity arrived once she was an adult.

One of the singer´s characteristics is to sing barefoot, which has led to her nickname of La diva aux pieds nus ('The Barefoot Diva'), as a gesture of solidarity towards the poverty stricken Cape Verde that inspires her songs. Also known as the Morna Queen (a musical genre from Cape Verde that is related to the Portuguese fado, the Brazilian modinha, the Argentinian tango, and the Angolan cry), she has captivated many audiences with her embracing voice. Proof of this is the more than five million records she has sold throughout the world, the 2004 Grammy for the Best Album, and the French Legion´s 2007 Honourable Knight medal, granted by French President Jacques Chirac.

Sources:

• www.diversomagazine.com

• www.cesaria-evora.com

• Wikipedia

• Our Planet magazine (the United Nations Environmental Programme´s magazine)

Consult the availability of records at the Casa África Media Library