Shakira: The Colombian Artist Who Has Conquered the World

Colombia has artists who have taken their talent to stages around the world and, through their work, have made the country proud. Among them is Shakira, one of Colombia's most prominent voices, who has built an internationally acclaimed career. From her early Spanish-language hits with albums such as Pies Descalzos and ¿Dónde están los ladrones?, through MTV Unplugged, the production that earned her first GRAMMY, to Laundry Service, her first crossover album, Shakira's music has crossed borders and helped her win over new audiences. In this article, you'll discover some of the key moments in her career and how her talent, together with the initiatives she has promoted in Colombia, have become sources of national pride.

Her songs have taken Colombia to new stages

Throughout her career, Shakira has performed songs that have crossed borders and become part of the Latin music that has reached audiences around the world. One of the milestones that cemented her international success was “Whenever, Wherever,” featured on Laundry Service, the album that marked an important step into the English-speaking market. This success was followed by “Hips Don’t Lie,” a collaboration with Wyclef Jean that reached number one on the charts in 18 countries.

Her career also includes “La Tortura,” with Alejandro Sanz, a song featured on Fijación Oral Vol. 1 that won three Latin GRAMMYs in 2006. Years later, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” took her voice to one of the world's most important sporting stages as the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Later, the collaboration between Carlos Vives and Shakira on “La Bicicleta” reached No. 1 in more than 10 countries and won the Latin GRAMMY for Record of the Year in 2016. Her career has continued with songs such as “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” which won the Latin GRAMMY for Song of the Year, and the album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, released in 2024.

She has performed on major sporting stages

Some stages bring the whole world together, with music becoming part of history. Shakira's voice has been featured at three consecutive editions of the FIFA World Cup: in Germany 2006, when she performed “Hips Don’t Lie” with Wyclef Jean during the closing ceremony in Berlin; in South Africa 2010, where “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” was the tournament's official song and Shakira performed it with Freshlyground; and in Brazil 2014, when she returned to the closing ceremony to perform “La La La (Brazil 2014).”

Her presence at major sporting events also extended to Super Bowl LIV, where she shared the halftime show with Jennifer Lopez in 2020. From World Cup stadiums to one of the most renowned stages in American sports, Shakira has brought her music to events that bring millions of people together, turning every performance into another opportunity for Colombian talent to shine before the world.

Her talent has also made a lasting impact in Colombia

Shakira's talent has also been connected to initiatives aimed at supporting education in Colombia. In 1997, she founded the Pies Descalzos Foundation, an organization focused on educational infrastructure projects to expand school coverage and access, as well as educational programs designed to help children and adolescents remain in the education system. Over the years, the foundation has developed these projects alongside teachers, families, communities, and various partners, bringing educational spaces and opportunities to different regions of the country.

This work has also accompanied Shakira's international career. In 2011, the Latin Recording Academy recognized her as Person of the Year for her artistic and philanthropic achievements. In this way, the Colombian artist's story has gone beyond the stage: her name is also associated with an initiative that has worked for years to strengthen education and expand opportunities for children and young people in Colombia.

Shakira, a source of pride that sounds like Colombia

Talking about Shakira means talking about an artist who has taken Colombia's name to stages around the world. Throughout her career, she has shared songs with international artists and brought her Spanish-language music to audiences in different countries. Her connection to Colombia is also evident in Barranquilla, where a 6.5-meter-tall statue of Shakira pays tribute to her career and her connection to her hometown. Through her songs, collaborations, major performances, and projects in the country, Shakira reminds us that Colombian talent can cross borders and bring a piece of Colombia to every place where her music is heard.

Related articles:

• Colombian female artists who captivate audiences with their voices and talent
• Carlos Vives, a great ambassador of Colombian folk music
• Colombian filmmakers: global successes