Today would have been the 78th birthday of Cape Verdean recording artist and vocalist Cesária Évora. Cesaria died on December 17, 2011, from respiratory failure and hypertension at age 70.
Google’s Doodle is celebrating her on this special day. The doodle is the image seen on Google’s homepage.
So who is Cesária Évora?
Cesária Évora was born August 27, 1941, in Mindelo, Cape Verde. She was born in a home of music. Her dad who passed away when Cesária was seven years old, is a part-time musician. After the death of her father, Cesária had to move to an orphanage home as their mother couldn’t cater for the six children. She grew up in a famous musical house known for housing other singers between 1940s to 1970s.
Cesária started her music career in the 1960s singing on Portuguese cruise ships stopping at her hometown Mindelo. She often performs without shoes which led to her nickname – Barefoot Diva”. Cesária specialises in Morna and Coladeira genres. Both genres were originated in Cape Verde. She began to gain international success with her first commercial album titled “La Diva Aux Pieds Nus”. The album was recorded in France.
In 1995, she dropped her 5th music project titled “Cesária”. The album gave her, her first Grammy nomination. But it was not until 2003, that she won a Grammy with her album “Voz d’Amor”. The album won in the World Music Category.
Cesária Évora is a legend in both Cape Verde and Africa. Her face is featured in the new 2000 Escudos banknote from the Banco de Cabo Verde. Her statue is at the terminal of Cape Verde’s third busiest airport. The airport was also renamed to honour her.