Shakira remains unstoppable after months of successful concerts in cities across the globe. The Colombian singer is set to kick off May with a highly anticipated free performance in Rio de Janeiro, an event that was unfortunately preceded by a tragic death.
Nevertheless, the Colombian star has once again proven that “the show must go on,” appearing ready to delight her Brazilian fans with her greatest hits.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupOn April 28, Shakira revealed to her Instagram followers that she is already in Rio de Janeiro, specifically in Copacabana. “This wolf is excited (because she’s in Rio),” the singer wrote in both English and Portuguese. Along with the message, she shared several photos posing happily on Brazilian soil.
© Instagram @shakiraThere was no better way to announce her arrival in Rio than by posing with one of its most famous symbols behind her: the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain, an imposing monolith nearly 1,300 feet high located in Guanabara Bay. Shakira flashed a wide smile while raising one arm as if reaching for the sky. She looked stunning with her signature curly hair down, wearing a white spaghetti-strap top and baggy jeans with a paint-splatter effect.
© Instagram @shakiraThe beloved Barranquilla native included another similar pose in her post, as well as a video where she appeared in high spirits, dancing and singing to "Choka Choka," her recent collaboration with Anitta. Her followers reacted with excitement, admitting they were anxious for the concert. Hours earlier, the "Te Felicito" singer shared a charming video showing her packing her special wardrobe for the trip: everything from sandals and a Brazilian national soccer team jersey to a tiny Brazilian-style bikini.
“We’re almost there, Rio!!! Preparing so many surprises for you: guest artists, a new wardrobe, songs you’ll love to hear... I can’t wait to be there... There’s no altar for the planet!” the singer wrote on April 25, sharing several photos of herself holding a fan with the word Copacabana.
This coming Saturday, May 2, Shakira will perform a massive free concert on the iconic Copacabana Beach as part of the cultural project Todo Mundo no Rio. This performance, which is also part of her successful Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, is estimated to draw as many as one million people.
Following this highly anticipated show, the singer will take a break from the stage until June, when she has several concerts scheduled in the United States.
The Tragedy Preceding Shakira’s Rio de Janeiro Show
Organizers of the Todo Mundo no Rio event confirmed last weekend the death of Gabriel de Jesús Firmino, a 28-year-old technician who was helping assemble the stage where Shakira will perform on May 2. “An accident that occurred this Sunday afternoon tragically claimed the life of a professional who was working on the assembly of the show’s structures,” they reported in a statement.
© Getty Images“First responders provided initial care at the scene, and the Fire Department’s intervention was immediately requested to transport the patient,” the statement noted. “Unfortunately, the professional passed away at the hospital. At this time, we extend our full support, attention, and solidarity to the responsible company, its team, and the victim's family.” In a statement to People En Español, the singer lamented the occurrence and expressed her condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
