Maria Severa Onofriana

Maria Severa Onofriana
Unfinished Indian ink drawing labeled "A Severa", by Francisco Augusto Metrass
Background information
Also known asA Severa
Born
Maria Severa Onofriana

26 July 1820
Died30 November 1846(1846-11-30) (aged 26)
GenresFado
InstrumentsVocals, portuguese guitar

Maria Severa Onofriana (26 July 1820 – 30 November 1846), also known simply as A Severa, was a Portuguese fado singer and guitarist. She is regarded, in her short life, as the first fado singer to have risen to fame, attaining a near-mythical status after her death. Fado has been described as the Portuguese expression of "the blues", and fado roughly means 'fate'.