Cesaria Evora suffers stroke in Australia

Australia - WOMADELAIDE headline act Cesaria Evora has been forced to cancel her appearance after suffering a stroke in Sydney. The 66-year-old singer from Cape Verde was due to star at Womadelaide tonight and tomorrow following Sydney Opera House performances earlier this week. She was admitted to hospital for tests after feeling unwell for a few days.

"She suffered a minor stroke," Womadelaide director Ian Scobie said yesterday. "I spoke to her doctors this morning and she is unable to continue with the tour, which is very sad. The good news is that she will make a full recovery and after a few days she will be able to travel home."

Evora's band will perform an instrumental set as a tribute to her at Womadelaide. Evora is known as the "Barefoot Diva" for performing without shoes in support of disadvantaged women and children in her country. She first learned to perform in an orphanage choir and sings in a soulful Creole Portuguese style called morna, which is related to Portugal's fado and Brazil's modinha music, but often likened to blues.