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.

Dona Militana
Born
Militana Salustino do Nascimento

19 March 1925 (1925-03-19)
Died19 June 2010 (2010-06-20) (aged 85)
São Gonçalo do Amarante, Brazil
Occupationsinger

Life and career

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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

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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]

Tributes

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On 19 March 2021, Google celebrated Dona Militana’s 96th birthday with a doodle.[4]


References

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  1. ^ a b c "Dona Militana, guardiã de histórias e canções de mais de 700 anos". El País Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 19 March 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Google celebra o 96º aniversário de Dona Militana, a maior romanceira do Brasil". TechBreak. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Morre Dona Militana Salustiano, a maior romanceira do Brasil". Tribuna do Norte. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  4. ^ Desk, OV Digital (19 March 2023). "19 March: Remembering Dona Militana on Birthday". Observer Voice. Retrieved 19 March 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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