Maria Severa Onofriana is the name of the woman who is mythically known as “the first Fadista in history.”
For Fado, a striking figure from the old neighborhoods of Lisbon who would become an inspiration for many.
Severa, of whom no voice recording exists, is considered to be the first person to sing fado in the streets, using her music to represent the people and their struggles. She was one of the pioneers in popularizing fado, contributing to this musical expression being recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Severa’s Fado
Severa was born in 1820 in the Madragoa neighborhood. From an early age, she was a well-known figure in the popular districts of Lisbon, where she brightened the nights with her presence. Indeed, her talent for singing and playing guitar enchanted many suitors. Among them, the Count of Vimioso stands out as a great romance of the fadista. Thus, the Count brought Maria Severa great fame, allowing her to gain significant prestige. Thanks to this, more opportunities arose for her to perform before an audience made up of young people from Portugal’s social and intellectual elite.
Although she lived only 26 years, she achieved great notoriety. However, there is little confirmed information about her life, which adds an air of mystery, but those who knew her left their accounts. One of them, Júlio de Sousa e Costa, described her:
The poor girl was an incredibly interesting fadista like Mouraria will never have again!… It will not be easy for another proud and impetuous Severa to appear, as generous as she was ready to fight anyone who mistreated her! Brave, full of affection for those she cared about, just as harsh with her enemies. She was no ordinary woman, you can be sure of that.
Severa
The writer Júlio Dantas immortalized the story of Maria Severa, and his work was adapted into the first Portuguese sound film in 1931. In 1990, the same work by Dantas was adapted for the theater, with Lena Coelho, former lead singer of the group Doce, playing the role of Severa. Additionally, the fadista Amália Rodrigues also portrayed Severa in 1955 in a musical directed by Vasco Morgado’s company.
Interestingly, in Mouraria, on Rua do Capelão, there is a place called Largo da Severa, where the fadista lived. A plaque reading “Casa da Severa” marks her former home, and on the Portuguese pavement, a Portuguese guitar is embedded in the ground in her honor.
On the other hand, A Severa, opened in 1955 by the couple Júlio and Maria José de Barros Evangelista, is the oldest Fado house in Lisbon still managed by the same family, now in its fourth generation. In this way, this house plays an active role in the history of fado and the promotion of traditional Portuguese culture, having been a starting point for some of the greatest names in fado.
The Short Life of the First Fadista
Maria Severa Onofriana was born on July 26, 1820. Severa came into the world on Rua da Madragoa (now Rua Vicente Borga nº33), where her mother owned a tavern. She was the daughter of Severo Manuel de Sousa, originally from the parish of S. Nicolau in Santarém, and Ana Gertrudes, born in Portalegre. Maria Severa’s parents married in April 1815, in the Parish of Santa Cruz da Prideira, in Santarém.
Maria Severa’s father was of Roma (Gypsy) ethnicity, originally from Santarém, while her mother, known as “A Barbuda,” was from Ponte de Sor and had migrated to Lisbon like many fishermen from the region. Her father’s Roma ancestry is often cited as the source of her exotic beauty and expressive singing—traits that captivated the bohemians of the capital. Ana Gertrudes, a well-known figure in Mouraria, was a famous prostitute. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Maria Severa also entered this profession early on, standing out not only for her beauty but also for her exceptional talent as a fadista.
Finally, Maria Severa died young, at the age of 26. The death record indicates that she passed away on November 30, 1846, on Rua do Capelão, from apoplexy and without receiving the sacraments.