Maria Severa Onofriana

Maria Severa Onofriana
Unfinished Indian ink drawing labeled "A Severa", by Francisco Augusto Metrass
Background information
Birth nameMaria Severa Onofriana
Also known asA Severa
Born26 July 1820
Lisbon, Portugal
Died30 November 1846(1846-11-30) (aged 26)
Lisbon, Portugal
GenresFado
Instrument(s)Vocals, 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'.