Dona Militana

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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[1][2] In September 2005, she received the Order of Cultural Merit from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.^[1][2]

On 10 June 2010, the singer felt ill and was taken to hospital, where she was hospitalised for two days; after a brief improvement in her condition, she was discharged. Voiceless and feeding through a gastric tube, she began home treatment in the care of her children.^[3]

Militana died at her home on 19 June 2010, at the age of 85.^[3]