Dona Militana

Dona Militana
Born	Militana Salustino do Nascimento 19 March 1925 (1925-03-19) São Gonçalo do Amarante, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Died	19 June 2010 (2010-06-20) (aged 85) São Gonçalo do Amarante, Brazil
Occupation	singer

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.

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]

References

1. "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. "Google celebra o 96º aniversário de Dona Militana, a maior romanceira do Brasil". TechBreak. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
3. "Morre Dona Militana Salustiano, a maior romanceira do Brasil". Tribuna do Norte. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2022.

External links

• Dona Militana in Dicionário Cravo Albin da Música Popular Brasileira