Shakira’s Colombian birth city unveils towering statue in singer’s honour

Colombian superstar Shakira’s Caribbean home city of Barranquilla has unveiled a 6.5-metre (21.3-foot) hip-swaying statue in her honour.

The towering bronze and aluminium creation depicts the singer in a ʙικιɴι top, bare middle and a long, flowing skirt, her hands clasped over her head and one hip jutting out in one of her characteristic dance moves.

“Hips that do not lie, a unique talent, a voice that moves mᴀsses,” reads the inscription at the base of the sculpture unveiled on the banks of the Magdalena River at a ceremony on Tuesday, attended by Shakira’s parents William Mebarak and Nidia Ripoll.

Hips Don’t Lie is the тιтle of one of 46-year-old Shakira’s award-winning songs.

On X, formerly Twitter, the singer thanked sculptor Yino Marquez and his art student collaborators for “this example of the enormous artistic talent of the people of my country”.

Translation: “Thanks to the sculptor Yino Marquez and the students of the district art school for this example of the enormous artistic talent of the people of my land.”