Colombian music superstar Shakira received a big honor from her hometown of Barranquilla, both figuratively and literally. A giant statue of the “Waka Waka” singer was unveiled in Barranquilla this week, celebrating her musical success, charity work, and everything she has done for the promotion of her country.
The bronze statue was built by Colombian sculptor Yino Marquez and stands at 21.3 ft. It was inspired by Shakira’s look and signature dance pose from the music video “Hips Don’t Lie”. There is also a plaque at the base of the statue that features the inscription: “Hips that do not lie, a unique talent, a voice that moves masses” and mentions her foundation, Pies Descalzos.
Shakira shared several photos from the unveiling ceremony, which was attended by her parents, William Mebarak and Nidia Ripoll, and Barranquilla mayor Jaime Pumarejo, on social media.
In a post shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), Shakira also thanked Marquez and his students for creating an “example of the enormous artistic talent of the people of my land”.
Shakira is currently busy working on her new studio album, the first since 2017’s El Dorado. According to the singer, the record will be heavily influenced by electronic music while also dipping into urban pop and rock genres. The album is expected to be released in 2024 and will be followed by a huge world tour.
