New York, US - The UNESCO Director-General, Ms. Irina Bokova, on Tuesday expressed her deep sorrow over the death of the internationally-renowned Cape Verdean singer, Ms. Cesaria Evora, who passed away at the age of 70.

Bokova, in a brief statement, made available to PANA in New York, said that, 'with the death of Evora, the world has lost a great singer, the carrier of a soft and passionate voice for Africa and the rapprochement of cultures.'

She noted that Evora, who died on Saturday, was known as the 'barefoot diva' and was considered ``the world’s best known exponent of morna, a music and dance genre which evokes the longing of Cape Verdeans.'

The statement disclosed that Evora performed with her orchestra at UNESCO headquarters in Geneva in 2009 at an event marking the 20th anniversary of the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize.

She was also known for her efforts supporting the work of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) as a Goodwill Ambassador.

Pana 21/12/2011