Today we lost a beautiful woman and a compassionate, soulful voice. Cesária Évora died at age 70 on the island of her Cape Verdean home of Sao Vicente.

Her music is filled with deep love and moves through any boundary of language. We were fortunate enough to see her in concert here in Pittsburgh. Beautiful. Cesária Évora was a committed activist for the rights of women and children in Cape Verde. She would stand on stage barefoot in solidarity with her country's poor and became known as the "Barefoot Diva." She joined the World Food Program as an Ambassador Against Hunger and used her voice for economic justice.  Here is one of my favorites, "Mar de Canal," a song she dedicated to WFP.  

Rest in Peace, Cesaria Évora.