Candita Batista (October 3, 1916 – April 1, 2016) was a singer, known internationally as an exponent of Afro-Caribbean music. In the course of her career she travelled worldwide and appeared with Nat King Cole, Charles Aznavour, Lola Flores and other stars.
In 1959 she toured Europe, appearing in front of King Farouk of Egypt in a concert in Rome. She spent eleven years in Europe before returning to Cuba. She continued to sing professionally up to the age of 94. Towards the end of her career, she founded the Mokekeré Orchestra.
She won numerous awards, including Hija Ilustre de la Provincia de Camagüey (Illustrious Daughter of the Province of Camagüey, the Alejo Carpentier Medal, and the Distinción por la Cultura Nacional. In 2011, she received a special award for lifetime achievement from the Association of Musicians of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC). She died in hospital in her home town of Camagüey, aged 99.
In 2003, she was the subject of a short documentary film, Candita Batista, la vedette negra de Cuba (26 minutes), made by Manuel Jorge Pérez Candita Batista, la vedette negra de Cuba, in der Internet Movie Database, retrieved 13 May 2014.
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