Dona Negra Canta

Dona Negra Canta is a project that claims the central role of African-American women in the construction and dissemination of Blues, Jazz, Rhythm’n’Blues and Soul during the first half of the 20th century.

Strong, empowered and fighting women who, in a totally adverse context and circumstances, stood up to a society that discriminated against them for their skin color, and to an industry, that of entertainment, that looked down on them for being women. Their work and life served as an example for many other women, who were able to see their daily experience reflected in their songs and find inspiration in them.

Dona Negra Canta reinterprets classics by Bessie Smith, Ma’ Rainey, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Nina Simone or Etta James, while recovering hidden pearls from artists such as Lil’ Green, Odetta or Memphis Minnie, in a concert that aims to search for the deep feeling of spirituals and the Blues.