Cesária Évora dies at 70

Cesária Évora, tha Cape Verdean singer known as the Barefoot Diva, has died at the age of 70.

Evora had been suffering from ill health for some time and underwent open heart surgery last year. She died in a hospital on Sao Vicente, the island where she was born.

Although Evora’s singing talent was spotted at an early age, it was not until the 1990s that she finally began to gain an international reputation after being invited to record in Paris where she quickly won over French hearts.

She was soon performing around the globe, as ever without shoes.

Evora was perhaps the most famous performer of Cape Verdean music known as Morna in the world. She picked up an array of awards including a Grammy for Best World Music Album with Voz d’Amor in 1994.

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