It was all love in Barranquilla, the Caribbean hometown of Colombian music superstar Shakira, as the people proudly unveiled a spectacular 6.5-metre (21.3-foot) statue in her honour on Tuesday.
Crafted from bronze and aluminium, the towering sculpture captures Shakira in one of her iconic dance poses, adorned in a bikini top, bare midriff, and flowing skirt, with hands elegantly raised over her head and one hip gracefully extended.
A heartfelt inscription at the base reads, “Hips that do not lie, a unique talent, a voice that moves masses.” paying homage to the singer’s renowned hit, “Hips don’t lie.” The unveiling ceremony along the banks of the Magdalena River saw the presence of Shakira’s parents, William Mebarak and Nidia Ripoll.
Gracing the platform, the 46-year-old global icon expressed gratitude to sculptor Yino Marquez and his team of art students, acknowledging their exceptional artistic contributions to her homeland.
Meanwhile, Shakira has left an indelible mark with over 80 million albums sold worldwide and three Grammy awards. Despite recent controversies surrounding tax investigations in Spain and multimillion-euro settlements, Shakira continues to make headlines. Her inclusion in the “Pandora Papers” leaks in 2021 exposed the financial strategies of the global elite.
