Thanks to Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Whitney Houston, the word diva has become synonymous with inflated self importance, foot-stamping and insane greed.

But when Susana Baca's fans affectionately nicknamed her The Barefoot Diva, they were referring to the original Latin word divvus, meaning goddess.

Because when Baca walks on stage, she rules her crowd with humble elegance. The soft pat of her soles is enough to hush even the most excitable crowd and her soft but smouldering eyes demand attention.

When you witness Baca live, you can't help but feel overwhelmed by the deep cultural spirituality she has nurtured from an early age.

Brought up in a coastal barrio outside Lima, she started out as something of a musical scholar, learning the songs and music of those descended from the old slave communities.

In adult life, she dedicated much of her time to studying her country's neglected African heritage and set up the Institute Of Black Continuum with her husband, Ricardo.

Although well-known in her native country, Baca didn't make her European debut until former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne decided to learn Spanish.

During a lesson, his teacher showed him some video footage of Baca. Overwhelmed by the haunting simplicity of her songs, he signed her to his label, Luaka Bop, and released her eponymous debut album to huge acclaim.

Byrne has been exceptionally busy since he recorded the Top Ten hit Lazy with X-Press 2 but he still finds time to email Baca.

She says: "We have quite a close relationship. He has learnt to write Spanish quite well - unfortunately, he still can't speak it."

Baca herself speaks very little English and when performing live, she speaks to her audience in soft, tender Spanish.

Although it is frustrating not to be able to understand her words, you instinctively know the pure emotion she is trying to convey.

Baca's latest album, Espiritu Vivo, combines her sultry vocals and the traditional rhythms of her Afro-Peruvian band with the contemporary influences of some of New York's most inspiring and influential musicians.

The album was recorded in downtown New York during the week of September 11 but Baca refused to let terrorism win.

She says: "I knew we could not let the terror of September 11 paralyse us. We decided to go ahead and record the album. At the very least, it felt good to do something creative."

The result is a powerful album of love, loss and life, sung by Baca with sincerity, beauty and grace.

Baca is supported by acoustic Portuguese group Madredeus. Tickets cost between £8 and £16. Call 01273 709709. At 6.30pm on the day of the concert, Baca will be signing copies of her new album at Borders bookshop, Churchill Square. Turn up at the Dome with your signed album and get £2 off the ticket price.