Dona Militana

Militana Salustino do Nascimento (19 March 1925 - 19 June 2010), best known as Dona Militana, was a Brazilian folk singer specialized in a romancero repertoire.

Life and career Born in São Gonçalo do Amarante, the daughter of cantastorie Atanásio Salustino do Nascimento (best known as Mestre do Fandango), since when she was a child Militana made humble works such as crop planting and basket weaving. While working, she used to recite ancient romancero folk songs about stories of medieval kingdoms his father had taught her, some of which were over 700 years old. She became first known thanks to researches of folklorist Deífilo Gurgel in the 1990s, and later went on record the triple album Cantares, which included 54 romance songs.

Militana died at her home on 19 June 2010, at the age of 85.