Dona Militana
Brazilian singer (1925–2010)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Militana Salustino do Nascimento (19 March 1925 - 19 June 2010), best known as Dona Militana, was a Brazilian folk singer specialized in a romancero repertoire.
19 March 1925
Dona Militana | |
|---|---|
| Born | Militana Salustino do Nascimento 19 March 1925 |
| Died | 19 June 2010 (aged 85) São Gonçalo do Amarante, Brazil |
| Occupation | singer |
Life and career
Born in São Gonçalo do Amarante, the daughter of cantastorie Atanásio Salustino do Nascimento (best known as Mestre do Fandango), since when she was a child Militana made humble works such as crop planting and basket weaving.[1] While working, she used to recite ancient romancero folk songs about stories of medieval kingdoms his father had taught her, some of which were over 700 years old.[2] She became first known thanks to researches of folklorist Deífilo Gurgel in the 1990s, and later went on record the triple album Cantares, which included 54 romance songs.[1][2] In September 2005, she received the Order of Cultural Merit from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.[1][2]
Death
On 10 June 2010, the singer felt ill and was taken to hospital, where she was hospitalised for two days; after a brief improvement in her condition, she was discharged. Voiceless and feeding through a gastric tube, she began home treatment in the care of her children.[3]
Militana died at her home on 19 June 2010, at the age of 85.[3]
