Singer Cesaria Evora, dubbed the "barefoot diva" for often performing without shoes, has died at the age of 70 in her native Cape Verde.

Evora, who is credited for introducing Cape Verde's morna style of music to the world, began singing at the age of 16, perfecting her voice in the bars of Mindelo.

However, she did not rise to fame until her late 40s, when her album La Diva Aux Pieds Nus (1988) became a hit.

Evora went on to release 10 more studio albums, of which she won a Grammy award for Voz d'Amor (2003).

While she was never a mainstream artist, her deep, soulful voice and raw emotion will keep her in the memory of her fans for years to come.

Al Jazeera's Barbara Angopa reports.