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| Singer Cesaria Evora dies at the age of 70 | Singer Cesaria Evora dies at the age of 70 |
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| Singer Cesaria Evora, dubbed the "Barefoot Diva" for often performing without shoes, has died in her native Cape Verde at the age of 70. | Singer Cesaria Evora, dubbed the "Barefoot Diva" for often performing without shoes, has died in her native Cape Verde at the age of 70. |
| The musician, forced to retire earlier this year due to ill-health, began her career singing in the bars of Mindelo in the West African island nation. | |
| Evora did not begin her recording career until 1988, and won a Grammy Award in 2004 for her album Voz D'Amor. | Evora did not begin her recording career until 1988, and won a Grammy Award in 2004 for her album Voz D'Amor. |
| She was famed for singing songs of longing with her rich contralto vocals. | She was famed for singing songs of longing with her rich contralto vocals. |
| Her sultry voice was often compared to blues star Billie Holliday | Her sultry voice was often compared to blues star Billie Holliday |
| Her fourth album, Miss Perfumado, was her breakthrough hit in 1992. It sold more than 300,000 copies worldwide, and resulted in a number of tours. She released 10 albums in all. | Her fourth album, Miss Perfumado, was her breakthrough hit in 1992. It sold more than 300,000 copies worldwide, and resulted in a number of tours. She released 10 albums in all. |
| Evora had a penchant for alcohol and cigarettes, and in later life her health began to decline. She suffered a stroke while on tour in Australia in 2008 and later underwent open heart surgery. | Evora had a penchant for alcohol and cigarettes, and in later life her health began to decline. She suffered a stroke while on tour in Australia in 2008 and later underwent open heart surgery. |
| In September, she spoke of her sadness at having to retire, saying: "I have no strength, no energy. I want you to say to my fans: forgive me, but now I need to rest. | In September, she spoke of her sadness at having to retire, saying: "I have no strength, no energy. I want you to say to my fans: forgive me, but now I need to rest. |
| "I infinitely regret having to stop because of illness, I would have wanted to give more pleasure to those who have followed me for so long." | "I infinitely regret having to stop because of illness, I would have wanted to give more pleasure to those who have followed me for so long." |
| Evora was considered one of the world's greatest exponents of Morna, a form of blues considered the national music of the Cape Verde islands, a former Portuguese colony which gained independence in 1975. | Evora was considered one of the world's greatest exponents of Morna, a form of blues considered the national music of the Cape Verde islands, a former Portuguese colony which gained independence in 1975. |
| The music is a testament to the country's history, including the slave trade and its physical remoteness in the Atlantic Ocean, hundreds of kilometres off Africa's west coast. | The music is a testament to the country's history, including the slave trade and its physical remoteness in the Atlantic Ocean, hundreds of kilometres off Africa's west coast. |
| Two days of national mourning has been declared in the small island nation, with President Jorge Carlos Fonseca calling her "one of the major cultural references of Cape Verde". | Two days of national mourning has been declared in the small island nation, with President Jorge Carlos Fonseca calling her "one of the major cultural references of Cape Verde". |
| Prime Minister Jose Maria Neves paid tribute to her "invaluable contribution to the greatness of our nation and our pride". | Prime Minister Jose Maria Neves paid tribute to her "invaluable contribution to the greatness of our nation and our pride". |