The voice that sung Cape Verde's mournful morna music to the world is gone. Cesaria Evora, 70, died at dawn on Saturday ( December 17 ) after being admitted to hospital on Friday night suffering from respiratory failure and heart problems. The singer was to play in Romania in October this year but canceled her concert on health issues.

She began her career more than 45 years ago, but it was in 1988 that she gained international recognition after recording her first album 'La Diva Aux Pieds Nus,' ( the Barefoot Diva ). Cesaria Evora liked to perform barefoot and the nickname stuck.

Cape Verde's most famous export was nominated a number of times for the Grammy awards and finally won in the world music category in 2003 for 'Voz d'Amor.' She also won awards from the French 'Les Victoires de la Musique' for 'Cafe Atlantico' in 2000 and again for 'Voz d'Amor' in 2004. She was nominated again in the French music awards for her most recent album 'Nha Sentimiento.'

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com