Shakira swept through Rio de Janeiro on Saturday with the free mega-concert she offered on Copacabana beach, where she made history as the first Latina to perform in the legendary sands of Rio de Janeiro with the most massive show of her artistic career. With a massive attendance of two million fans, according to data from the Rio city hall, the Barranquilla native demonstrated why she is one of the most influential figures on the planet.
The show stood out not only for its magnitude but also for the quality of the collaborations. Local star "Anitta was the first surprise," appearing to perform 'Choka Choka' and greeting the Colombian with a shout of "Rainha." The most emotional moment came when the second guest, Caetano Veloso, brought the tenderness of children's songs to the stage with 'O Leaozinho' alongside Shakira. Visibly moved, Shakira exclaimed, "What an honor."
The party continued with figures like María Bethania and Ivette Sangalo, with whom she performed 'Um pais tropical.' For Shakira, this event had a deep personal meaning, as she recalled falling in love with Brazil at the age of 18, a country that opened the doors for her at the beginning of her career to become the current queen of Latin pop. For over two hours, the artist revisited three decades of her career.
After opening the show with 'La fuerte' and greeting the crowd with a "Hello Brazil" in perfect Portuguese, anthems like 'Pies descalzos,' 'La tortura,' 'Hips don't lie,' and 'Ojos así' followed. At one point in the show, Shakira dedicated the concert to women, highlighting their strength and resilience, and reminding that while they may appear vulnerable alone, together "we are invincible." The highlight was 'Waka Waka,' the song that energized the audience the most, closing a night where the diva showcased the "tumbao" of her homeland. This mega-concert stands as the largest presentation of her career and the first of this magnitude by a Latin artist.