Cesaria Evora dead at 70

Cesaria Evora, who died at the weekend, aged 70. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel/Files
Cesaria Evora, who died at the weekend, aged 70. REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel/Files
Cesaria Evora, the "Barefoot Diva" from Cape Verde, has died.

Evora, regarded as one of the great soulful voices of Lusophone Africa, was 70.

She toured frequently until announcing her retirement for health reasons three months ago.

She most recently played Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center in 2006. Kevin L. Carter interviewed her before a show at the Keswick Theater in 1996, when Evora explained that the Cape Verdean style of song known as morna "is not hot or cold. It is warm. Like with the blues, it is how we Cape Verdeans express everything, our sadness, our happiness, our sodade."

Reacting to Evora's death, Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo tweeted: "She had the most amazing voice and was the most generous person I have ever met."