View source for Maria de Barros

{{Short description|Cape Verdean singer}}
'''Maria de Barros''' (born February 3, 1961, in [[Dakar]], [[Senegal]]) is a singer most associated with [[Cape Verde]], the land of her parents. Growing up in [[Nouakchott]], [[Mauritania]], she moved to the United States at the age of 11, living in [[Providence, Rhode Island]] in her youth with her four siblings, and connecting more closely with her heritage in the local [[Cape Verdean Americans|Cape Verdean community]]. She is married to, Mel Wilson Jr., a bassist with [[Toots and the Maytals]].<ref>{{citation|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2009252416_zmus26debarros.html |periodical=Seattle Times |date=2009-05-26 |accessdate=2018-09-13 |title=Maria De Barros opens a window to Cape Verde |first=Andrew |last=Gilbert |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612093927/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/musicnightlife/2009252416_zmus26debarros.html |archivedate=2009-06-12}}</ref>

She considers [[Cesária Évora]] to be her godmother and an inspiration. Her music thus has [[Morna (music)|Morna]] influences, but she also has Latin or [[Salsa music|salsa]] influences.

Besides Évora she is a fan of [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Whitney Houston]], [[Willy Chirino]], and [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]. She is also fluent and has recorded songs in several languages, including her native [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] and [[Cape Verdean Creole]] (''Kriolu''), [[French language|French]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[German language|German]], and [[English language|English]].

She went on tour in [[Europe]], in 2008. That summer, she also performed in [[Princeton, New Jersey]]'s [[Petronello Gardens]].

==Awards==

*2004 Nomination by ''[[Essence Magazine]]'' as the ''Face of World Music'' in its June 2004 issue<ref name="WOMAX">{{cite web |author=Georg Leitner Productions GmbH |date=2018 |title=Maria de Barros |url=https://www.womex.com/virtual/georg_leitner_gmbh/maria_de_barros |access-date=October 11, 2018 |website=www.womex.com |publisher=Piranha Arts AG}}</ref>
*2005 ''Cape Verde Artist of the Year'' in USA<ref name="WOMAX" />
*2006 ''Miriam Makeba Award,'' Excellence in Music<ref name="WOMAX" />
*2008 ''Cultural Certificate of Merit,'' given by Ministry of Culture in Cape Verde<ref name="WOMAX" />
*2008 ''Lunas del Auditório Award'', nominated in the category ''Melhor Concerto de World Music'' (Best World Music Concert).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.africanidade.com/articles/1488/1/Cantora-cabo-verdiana-Maria-de-Barros-nomeada-para-prAmios-Lunas-del-AuditArio-/Paacutegina1.html|title=Cantora cabo-verdiana Maria de Barros nomeada para prémios Lunas del Auditório|newspaper=Africanidade|accessdate=18 August 2010|language=pt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105234547/http://www.africanidade.com/articles/1488/1/Cantora-cabo-verdiana-Maria-de-Barros-nomeada-para-prAmios-Lunas-del-AuditArio-/Paacutegina1.html|archive-date=5 January 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*2009 ''Reggadera'' song featured in HBO show ''[[Entourage (U.S. TV series)|Entourage]]''<ref name="WOMAX" />
*2010 Nomination by ''[[NAACP Image Awards]]'' for ''Morabeza,'' for Outstanding World Music Album<ref name="WOMAX" /> 
*2011 ''Cabo Verde Music Awards,'' for Best Morna/Coladeira, for "Reggadera"<ref name="WOMAX" />
*2011 Four nominations by ''[[Cabo Verde Music Awards]]'' of the album ''Morabeza,'' for (1) Best Traditional Album; (2) Best Female Vocalist; (3) Best Performer; and (4) Best Coladeira<ref name="WOMAX" />
*2013 ''Prix Special de la Francophonie,'' by the Francophonie Chapter in Washington, D.C.<ref name="WOMAX" />

Her three releases "Nha Mundo," "Danca Ma Mi" and "Reggadera" have been part of several compilations such as Putumayo, Starbucks, and Rough Guide.<ref name="WOMAX" />

==Discography==
*2003 ''Nha Mundo'' ("My World")
*2005 ''Dança Ma Mi'' ("Dance With Me")
*2009 ''Morabeza'' ("Hospitality")

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061004010941/http://mariadebarros.com/ Maria de Barros's website]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barros, Maria de}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Cape Verdean women singers]]
[[Category:French-language singers of Senegal]]
[[Category:Musicians from Dakar]]