Culture of Cape Verde: Cesária Évora - Barefoot Diva and the Queen of Morna

Cesária Évora was born on August 27th, 1941 in Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde. She was a popular Cape Verdean singer, dubbed the “Barefoot Diva” for performing without shoes and also called the “Queen of Morna” for her contribution to the popular music of Cape Verde.

“Cise,” as she was known to her friends, was one of six children, and her father, a part-time musician, died when she was seven years old.  As her mother could not cope with the costs of raising all six children, Cesária was placed in an orphanage at age 10.   Always musically inclined, she was persuaded to sing in a sailors’ tavern at the age of 16.  It seems her audience appreciated her singing.

During the 1960s, Cesária began singing on the Portuguese cruise ships that docked in the harbor at Mindelo and also featured on the local radio station.  However, it was in 1985 that she really got the attention she deserved when, at the invitation of Cape Verdean singer Bana, Cesária traveled to Portugal and performed in Lisbon.  There she discovered by the producer José da Silva and invited to record her music in Paris.

It was in 1988 that Cesária achieved success internationally when she released her first album La Diva Aux Pieds Nus, which was recorded in France.  In 1992 she released the album Miss Perfumado which sold more than 300,000 copies worldwide.  This album included one of her most popular and celebrated songs, “Sodade,” which is included below:



She released her album Cesária in 1995 which brought her not only more international success but also her first Grammy Award nomination.  In 1997 Cesária won the KORA All African Music Awards in three categories, "Best Artist of West Africa", "Best Album" and "Merit of the Jury."  Cesária’s album, Voz d’Amor, won a Grammy in the World music category in 2003.

 

Cesária performed a series of concerts in 2010, the last being in Lisbon on May 8.  She regrettably suffered a heart attack two days later and was hospitalized and underwent an operation.  On May 11, 2010, Cesária was taken off artificial pulmonary ventilation and was discharged from intensive care on May 16, heading to a clinic for further treatment.  However, due to her poor health, in late September 2011, her agent announced that she was ending her music career.

At the age of 70, on December 17, 2011, Cesária passed away in São Vicente, Cape Verde, from respiratory failure and hypertension.  According to a Spanish newspaper, Cesária was receiving guests up to 48 hours prior to her death in her Mindelo home (pictured right), well known for always having its doors open to visitors.

Anyone interested in reading the lyrics of Cesária’s music, this website has them in the original Portuguese with translations to English and various other languages.  The following is a YouTube playlist of Cesária’s most famous and well-loved songs:

Read more about the Morna music genre here. 



Photos:
Cesária Évora CC-by-SA As fotos da Virada!
Street and home of Cesária Évora CC-by-SA Magorek