Cesaria Evora started her singing careeer in her teens, appearing in bistros around her hometown of Mindelo, on the island of Cape Verde. After going through a long, dry spell during the 1970s and early 1980s, the songtress finally found considerable success after landing a record deal in Europe. The artist was 47 when she released her first album - La diva aux pieds nus, in 1988. In the following years, Evora released a series of recordings which made her an international star. In 2004, she was made Officier des Arts et des Lettres by France's Ministry of Culture. A dedicated cultural ambassador, the Barefoot Diva helped popularize morna and coladera, two musical genres typical of her native country. Nha Sentimento was released in 2009. The songstress passed away two years later.