Shakira has never been shy about celebrating strong women, and during her historic residency in Madrid, Spain, the Colombian superstar found another meaningful way to share that message. This time, she turned to literature and the words of acclaimed Chilean author Isabel Allende.
The singer, whose Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour has become synonymous with resilience, reinvention, and female empowerment, incorporated a literary experience into her Macondo Park cultural festival, inviting fans to explore books, discover female authors, and connect with stories that have inspired her.
© Getty Images / ABA via Getty ImaAmong the writers featured in Shakira's literary world was Allende, whose message about the strength of women standing together has also become part of the singer's performances.
Shakira quotes Isabel Allende on the power of women supporting women
During her September 2026 concert in Madrid, Shakira referenced one of Allende's most empowering messages about female solidarity. "Las mujeres solas somos vulnerables, pero juntas somos invencibles," the singer told the audience, attributing the sentiment to the Chilean author. In English, the quote translates to: "Women alone are vulnerable, but together we are invincible."
© Getty ImagesThe statement resonated with the message behind Shakira's Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran era, which has celebrated women finding their voices, overcoming difficult experiences, and supporting one another.
According to Europa Press, Shakira also reflected on how challenges had made her wiser, more resilient, and stronger.
The connection between Shakira and Allende feels particularly fitting. Both women have built internationally recognized careers by telling stories about love, loss, identity, and the complicated experiences that shape women's lives. For Shakira, those stories often become songs. For Allende, they become novels.
Inside Shakira's Macondo Park library with Penguin Libros
Shakira's Madrid residency was about much more than music. As part of the ES LATINA festival, held from September 18 through October 11, 2026, the singer collaborated with Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial to create a literary pavilion called La Biblioteca.
The space was part of Macondo Park, a cultural experience inspired by the fictional town created by Colombian Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel García Márquez in his celebrated novel One Hundred Years of Solitude.
© Europa Press via Getty ImagesRather than simply displaying books, the pavilion invited visitors to participate in conversations, reading activities, and interactive experiences.
According to Penguin Random House, the project included 12 literary conversations featuring 24 female authors, a bookstore, a reading club, and an immersive audio experience inspired by García Márquez's work.
The initiative also introduced visitors to Shakira's personal literary interests, including books exploring motherhood, identity, creativity, self-discovery, and women's independence.
Penguin Libros thanks Shakira in an emotional farewell to Madrid
Following the conclusion of Shakira's Madrid residency, Penguin Libros shared a heartfelt farewell message on social media, thanking the singer for inviting the publishing house to participate in the cultural celebration.
The original Spanish message read: "Ay, te dejo, Madrid. Llegamos al final de este capítulo." The publisher continued by thanking the visitors, authors, guests, and staff who helped bring La Biblioteca to life across four weekends: "Oh, I'm leaving you, Madrid. We've reached the end of this chapter. A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by Penguin's LIBRARY at the ES LATINA festival; to the authors and guests who joined us over four exciting and unforgettable weekends; to everyone responsible for keeping the library running; and to Shakira, especially her, for allowing us to be part of this great cultural celebration called Macondo Park. Until we meet again, dear one!"
Why Isabel Allende's books are part of Shakira's literary universe
One of the titles featured in Shakira's curated literary selection was The House of the Spirits (La casa de los espíritus), Allende's internationally celebrated debut novel. Published in 1982, the novel follows generations of a family, with female characters playing central roles in a story shaped by love, memory, political conflict, and social change.
Its exploration of women's experiences makes it a natural fit for the themes that Shakira has embraced throughout her latest musical era.
© IG: Isabel AllendeThe singer's library was organized around four themes: Raíces (Roots), Loba (She-Wolf), Antología (Anthology), and Crear (Create). Other featured books included Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Delirium by Laura Restrepo, The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, and Matilda by Roald Dahl.
Each selection offered a different perspective on creativity, identity, independence, or personal transformation.
Shakira and Isabel Allende share a message of female empowerment
Although Shakira and Allende work in different creative fields, their storytelling shares an important theme: women should have the freedom to define their own lives. Allende has spent decades exploring women's experiences through literature, while Shakira has increasingly used her music and public appearances to address independence, heartbreak, motherhood, and reinvention.
In her book The Soul of a Woman, Allende reflects on feminism and the importance of challenging systems that limit women's opportunities. She also emphasizes how storytelling can help women recognize and articulate experiences they may have struggled to express.
© FELIPE AMILIBIAIn an essay published by Penguin Libros, Allende explained that she does not need to deliver explicit feminist messages in every novel. Instead, she believes strong female protagonists can communicate those ideas through their stories.
That philosophy has clear parallels with Shakira's music, particularly the way she has transformed personal experiences into songs that connect with women across generations.
Shakira's book club will continue beyond her Madrid concerts
One of the most interesting aspects of Shakira's collaboration with Penguin Random House is that the literary experience was designed to continue after the concerts ended. The official ES LATINA reading club plans to bring participants together around a monthly book selection through June 2027.
© Robin MarchantFans can explore the singer's selections and learn about upcoming activities through the official Penguin ES LATINA reading club.
It gives Shakira's audience another way to connect with the themes behind her music while discovering Latin American authors and contemporary literary voices.
