In the spotlight: the death of Elza Soares, the black diva of Brazilian music at 91
Brazilian singer Elza Soares died on January 20, 2022 at the age of 91.
© AFP/Carl de Souza
Text by: Christophe Paget Follow
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The photos of Elza Soares occupy the front pages of all the Brazilian press: "
the voice of the millennium
", for
Folha de São Paulo
, "
the voice of resistance
" for
O Dia
, "
a goddess named Elza
", title
Correio Braziliense
, while
Extra
thanks the "
queen
". “
Giant voice, immense life
”, summarizes
Estado de Minas
.
Elza Soares had "
a unique vocal power, marked by hoarse and raspy tones that range from the lowest to the highest
notes", notes
Folha de São Paulo
, who continues: "
Even after being considered 'the voice of the millennium' by BBC radio in 1999
", she defined herself as "
a foot soldier or music worker
". Especially since, explains the newspaper, "
Elza's life is very similar to that of thousands of Brazilians
": "
Forcibly married at the age of 12, she became pregnant at 13, buried two children who died of starvation, was beaten by her husband and survived for a long time more than lived
.
“
Elza Soares is the Brazilian woman who has known – and sung – all the inconveniences and all the pleasures
”, underlines
O Globo
: “
the slums, popular culture, love, gender violence.
She has lent her vibrant voice to politics, social justice, women's rights and LGBTQIA+ rights.
She defended black people, denounced racism
”, “
against the current of the reactionary wave which is invading the country
”, insists
Folha de São Paulo
.
An incredible trajectory
And if the 1990s were not very prosperous for her, "
the year 2000 will have been that of redemption
" underlines
O Globo
: a musical about her life, the BBC which names her singer of the millennium, and a closeness with the young rap, electronic and samba musicians which made her participate in 2015 in one of the most awarded Brazilian popular music albums of 2015 for which she will be acclaimed:
A mulher do fim do mundo
.
"
In a country known for the immense number of singers that popular music has produced, Elza Soares was the one whose trajectory was the most incredible
", insists
O Globo
: "
In this country, there is no one like her.
It is impossible to imagine that she is absent
”.
Virtual Conference on Haiti
This Friday is a virtual international conference on Haiti, chaired by Canada. Participating are foreign ministers from the United States, Canada and France, as well as, among others, officials from the UN, the Organization of American States.
Alter Presse
stresses that insecurity must be one of the critical issues discussed during the conference, because in Haiti "
so far, the judicial and police authorities remain unable to curb this situation of untenable criminality
".
Prime Minister Ariel Henry has also announced, completes
Le Nouvelliste
, "
that he will take advantage of this platform to present the needs of Haiti in terms of equipment and training of the National Police
". This is good, according to The voice of America quoted by the newspaper, "
the United States would like to strengthen the capacity of the national police
". The United States which, according to
Le Nouvelliste,
"
will have the leading role
" at this conference. It will still be necessary to "
exclude paternalism
", headlines
Le National
, taking up the words of a member of the diaspora, who hopes that "
this virtual summit will herald a new era in Haiti's relations with international partners
".
But over the decades, regrets
Le Nouvelliste
, "
we have become the student of the Americas who does not excel in any subject
".
And the daily estimates that this Friday's conference “
registers us in a surveillance program that will last.
Will we put in our bulletin: "Can do better" or "refuse to do more"?
We'll find out very soon
."
In the United States, a spending plan to reduce
In the United States, Democrats are considering what they
can salvage from the Social Spending and Climate Bill, which President Joe Biden failed to push through Congress.
what they're going to keep and what they're going to throw away, before the midterm elections
,” explains the
Washington Post
. They focus, The
New York Times
points out, on the parts that Senator Joe Manchin, the vote-buster, has indicated in the past that he supports: "
pre-kindergarten, the $500 billion to fight climate change and lower drug prices
.
The Democrats will have to “
make painful choices that they have so far avoided and could alienate some elected officials from whom they need the votes to pass the plan, with a narrow majority, in both chambers
”.
While, notes the
Los Angeles Times
, Joe Biden already finds himself stuck "
with a divided party
".
In short, the Democrats are embarking on a difficult path, notes the newspaper, especially since, as
The Hill
points out , Joe Manchin indicated on Thursday that "
the discussions will start from scratch
".
In Chile, Gabril Boric and the "First Lady"
Emol
returns to the surprise caused by the announcement of Irina Karamanos, the companion of the newly elected president Gabriel Boric, to assume the post of "
first lady
". Its objective: “
to 'transform' it and adapt it to the current era
”. A decision, underlines Emol, "
which was not well received by some feminists or by Apruebo Dignidad
", the coalition which brought Gabriel Boric to power.
Some see it as a missed opportunity to end this charge, which Gabriel Boric himself had promised last July.
Which makes it a “
bad signal
”, according to an academic interviewed by the newspaper.
Political scientist Julieta Suarez-Caro believes for her part that it is an “
easy to transform
” position, and that in any case, if it were abolished, a future Conservative government could easily put it back in place.
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