New Cesária Évora Album: 10 Unreleased Tracks Coming Soon
Fifteen years after the passing of the “Barefoot Diva,” the legendary voice of Cape Verde is set to return. A new album featuring 10 previously unreleased tracks by Cesária Évora will be released on October 16, producer José “Djô” da Silva announced.
Titled Reina da Morna (Queen of Morna), the record serves as a tribute to the singer’s enduring legacy. According to Da Silva, the architect of Évora’s international rise, the collection draws from a vault of recordings that have been meticulously preserved for decades.
From the Archives to the Spotlight
The tracks featured on Reina da Morna were originally recorded as “extras” during various studio sessions. “We saved songs for editions in countries like Japan, which always requested unique tracklists,” Da Silva told Lusa. Other songs were shelved to maintain a specific balance of styles—such as the upbeat coladeira versus the soulful, melancholic morna—on her previous studio albums.
This release marks the first time Sony Music France has tapped into the Lusafrica archives since acquiring the label in 2025. Fans can expect a mix of traditional rhythms and rare gems, including what is believed to be the only song written by Eugénio Tavares ever recorded by Évora, titled “Força di Cretcheu.”
“Cesária always preferred to record the works of B. Leza,” Da Silva recalled. “We finally managed to get her to record a piece by Eugénio Tavares, but when it came time to finalize the album, she decided to set it aside for later. That time has finally come.”
A Global Legacy
The album’s lead single, “Sonsente,” has already been released, offering a preview of the 10-track collection. The full tracklist includes “Amiga d’nh’ Amigo,” “E Nos Cabo Verde,” “Resposta De Ganha Pouco,” “Junior,” “Brisa D’bo Sorriso,” “Nos Contradança,” “Projecto,” and “No Po Na Ton.” The physical release will include an essay by journalist Francis Dordor, who chronicled Évora’s career from her early days to global stardom.
Cesária Évora rose from singing in the bars of Mindelo at age 16 to becoming a Grammy-winning icon. Though she recorded her first Lisbon-produced album in 1985, it wasn’t until she moved to Paris that she was “discovered” by the wider world. Her 1988 album, La Diva aux Pieds Nus, catapulted her onto the world stage, eventually leading to a Grammy in 2004 and the French Legion of Honor in 2009.
Évora passed away in 2011 at the age of 70, but her influence remains a cornerstone of world music. Reina da Morna will be available on vinyl, CD, and all digital platforms starting October 16.
Image: Pexels – damien Saillet
