While she may have finished the last year of this decade relaxing in her native Mindelo (Cape Verde), taking a much-deserved break from a time-consuming tour that took her all of the world, Cesaria Evora spent much of the 2000s performing on stages all around the world, selling million of records and receiving awards.

Before she became the absolute “Queen of World Music,” Cesaria, the cigarette puffing and whisky drinking grandmother, had gone through a lengthy and grueling spell, singing in Mindelo’s ramshackle bars where she used to sing in exchange of nips of whisky.  Before the end of 1980s, Cesaria had come to the attention of José da Silva, a Capeverdean producer, who signed her up and brought her to Paris, France, where she reached immediate success. She was 47 years-old.

Throughout the 1990s, Cesaria built an exceptional career, earning innumerable Awards and even drawing comparisons to Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf, Bessie Smith, and Celia Cruz. She was appointed ambassador to the United Nations, and most importantly, she was finally shown great admiration in the United States, where after the release of “Cesaria” (1995), the New York Times, The Boston Globe, and the Philadelphia Inquired acclaimed her “The Best of the Year.”

If Cesaria exploded in the 1990s, she definitely contributed to her coronation in the 2000s. The barefoot diva proved her star has no chance of waning after she made history by becoming the first Capeverdean artist to win the prestigious Grammy Awards: On February 8th, 2004, “Voz D’Amor,” (Voice of Love) won the Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album, a category in which included Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso and Senegalese Superstar Youssou N’Dour.

Regardless of her international superstardom, Cesaria has yet to fall into monotony. As a singer, she continues to grow and surprise, releasing hit records and taking on appealing humanitarian projects such as UNICEF’s Children's Creativity Festival in Uzbekistan and “Ensemble, Nous djunta Mô,” (Together, let’s lend a hand) to benefit Capeverdean children.

At an age where many would consider retirement, Cesaria remains lusciously down-to-earth and appears to find more joy performing around the world and spending time at home in Mindelo than getting any kinds of accolades. This is typical of Cesaria and that’s why she is our Capeverdean artist of the decade.

Here are some of her accomplishments during the 2000s:

• -Les Victoires De La Musique (France’s answer to the Grammy) for Best Album in the category of Reggae/Ragga/world music (2004)
• Voz d’Amor” was the recipient of a Gold record in France (2004).
• Awarded the insignia of the Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Minister of Culture (2004).
• Three Gold Records in Poland for “Best Of,” “Café Atlantico” and “Voz de Amor” (2005).
• “Voz d’Amor” was awarded a platinum record by Media Nova Entertainment for its exceptional sale during a ceremony in Romania (2006).
• The songs “Sodade” and “Fruto proibido” are used for the soundtrack of Italian movie “La Meglio Gioventu.'” (2003).
• Elevated to the rank of Chevalier (L'ordre National de la Légion d'honneur) by former French President Jacques Chirac.
• Honored with the Légion d'Honneur (Legion of Honor) insignia by the French Minister of Culture Christine Albanel Jacques Chirac
• “Rogamar” (Pray to the sea) was the recipient of a Gold Record in France (2007).
• Cesaria was part of ESSENCE magazine’s The Beautiful Ones: 35 of the Most Remarkable Women in the World, alongside Halle Berry, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé Knowles, Rita Dove, Queen Latifah, Cynthia Ann McKinney, and Serena Williams among others (2005.