How well do you know Shakira?
Shakira has sung in Spanish, English and more, for crowds from Bogotá to the World Cup. These six questions trace her story from Barranquilla to global stardom.
Did you know?
- In 2023 Barranquilla unveiled a bronze statue of Shakira more than six metres tall on the city's riverside promenade. It shows her in a belly-dancing pose, and it was made by students of a local arts school working with their teachers, a fitting link to her own work supporting education in the city.
- Shakira voiced Gazelle, a pop star, in the 2016 animated film Zootopia and recorded its song 'Try Everything'. The character's look and dance moves were partly inspired by her own performances, and the song became popular with children around the world.
- In 2020 Shakira and Jennifer Lopez headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in Miami, the first time two Latina artists had led it together. Shakira's set mixed rock guitar, belly dancing and a champeta dance from Colombia's Caribbean coast, which sparked a wave of online searches.
A voice from the Caribbean coast
Shakira was born in 1977 in Barranquilla, a port city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. Her father, a writer and jeweller, was born in New York to Lebanese parents, and her mother is Colombian. She wrote her first song at eight and performed at school events and local talent shows. After two early albums that failed to sell, her 1995 album Pies Descalzos became a hit across Latin America and launched a career that would take her to stadiums around the world.
Crossing into English
By the late 1990s Shakira was one of the biggest stars in Latin music, but she wanted to reach listeners who did not speak Spanish. She improved her English so she could write her own lyrics, and her 2001 album Laundry Service, led by 'Whenever, Wherever', became a worldwide success. Later songs such as 'Hips Don't Lie' in 2006 topped charts in many countries. She continued to release music in both languages, often recording separate versions of the same song.
World Cup songs
Shakira is closely linked with football's World Cup. She performed at the closing ceremony in Germany in 2006, recorded 'Waka Waka' for the 2010 tournament in South Africa, the first held on the African continent, and sang 'La La La' at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. 'Waka Waka' was recorded with the South African band Freshlyground, and its dance, easy to copy, spread quickly among fans, schools and sports teams around the world.
Music and education
Alongside her career, Shakira has campaigned for early childhood education, arguing that the first years of life shape a child's future. She has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and spoken about education at international forums. Her foundation's schools in cities such as Barranquilla and Cartagena serve thousands of children. She has also received major honours, including Latin Grammys, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a large bronze statue in her home city.