Maria Severa

Maria Severa was a Portuguese singer, renowned as the first famous fadista (singer of fado). Fado is a genre of Portuguese singing, characterized by its expressive and melancholic nature, often reflecting the harsh realities of life with a sense of resignation or hope. Severa, a tavern singer from Lisbon's Alfama district, popularized this style in the 1830s. She sang of real-life woes with a mournful and improvisational manner that became characteristic of the Lisbon style of fado. The dark shawl she wore during performances also became a traditional accessory for female fado singers.1