free concert by Shakira
free concert by shakira

 


Shakira's historic concert in Brazil turns Copacabana into a massive public stage


In an extraordinary scene, the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro witnessed yesterday, Saturday, May 3, the gathering of about two million people on the famous Copacabana beach, to attend a free concert held by the Colombian star Shakira , which is recorded as the largest concert in her artistic career so far, according to what city officials confirmed.


Local authorities confirmed that this type of huge show on Copacabana beach has become one of the city's main tourist attractions, as pop stars Madonna and Lady Gaga have previously performed similar concerts in the area in front of the famous Copacabana Palace Hotel in recent years.


Rio de Janeiro benefits from these events as part of the "Todo Mundo No Rio" or "Everyone in Rio" festival, which aims to boost tourism and attract international visitors during the month of May, thereby enhancing the city's economic activity.


The atmosphere of the concert began with a dazzling display of drones that drew the image of a wolf in the sky, a symbol associated with Shakira, before she addressed the audience in Portuguese amidst widespread interaction from the attendees.


"Brazil, I love you," Shakira, 49, said during the concert. "It's magical to see millions of souls come together, ready to sing, interact, dance and remind the world what's really important."


During the concert, the Colombian star performed a selection of her most famous songs, which the audience interacted with, including "Hips Don't Lie," "Antología," and "Waka Waka," which was associated with the 2010 World Cup. The concert also witnessed the participation of a number of the most prominent Brazilian stars, including Anita, Caetano Veloso, Maria Bethania, and Ivete Sangalo, who went up on stage to perform joint shows with Shakira.


The Rio de Janeiro municipality revealed that the event generated economic returns estimated at around 800 million Brazilian reais, equivalent to US$161.45 million, benefiting from the recovery of the hotel, restaurant, transportation and retail sectors.


Authorities added that the "Todo Mundo No Rio" festival will remain on the city's official calendar until at least 2028, as part of a strategy to strengthen Rio de Janeiro's position as a global destination for major events.