Beyond the memes: Shakira's tongue movement at the Super Bowl is a tribute to her roots
The Colombian artist presented an acclaimed show with J-Lo on Sunday. The chant that she intoned with her tongue probably appealed to a tradition and not a simple occurrence.
The Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday gave more to talk about than the game itself, and the protagonists were Shakira and JLo, who offered a sample of Latin culture in Miami. For many, there were political messages, especially in the presentation of Jennifer Lopez. Shakira, who danced to various Caribbean rhythms, drew attention for a celebratory gesture that sparked many memes, but also embodies a message of inclusion, diversity and tradition.
When Shakira sang a song with her tongue during her presentation at the Super Bowl, she probably appealed to a tradition and not a simple occurrence.
Greatest moment in Super Bowl history https://t.co/eUswfanHhK
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) February 3, 2020
Shakira's father is Lebanese and throughout her career, the artist has incorporated elements from the Middle East into her repertoire. The aesthetic of songs like Hips Don't Lie, in the dance, and Ojos Así, in the music, is distinctively Arabic.
Amid the avalanche of comments and memes, some pointed out on the networks that this gesture is called zaghrouta, or ululation, an Arab tradition of celebration.
Tweeter Diana Elbasha explained: “I debated if she should step in, but with so many disrespectful memes – Shakira wasn't just being funny with the 'tongue thing'. What she did is called zaghrouta, an Arabic tradition used to express joy, excitement, celebration, typically heard at weddings. For her information, she is part Lebanese.”
debated whether to chime in, but so many disrespectful memes: Shakira wasn’t just being funny with the “tongue thing.” what she did is called a zaghrouta, an Arabic tradition used to express joy, excitement, celebration. typically heard at weddings. FYI, she’s part Lebanese.
— Diana Elbasha (@DianaElbasha) February 3, 2020
According to Arab America, a media organization to promote the accurate representation of Arabs in the United States, women from the Middle East and North Africa commonly produce these sounds at celebrations such as weddings or births, and sometimes at funerals to honor their Arabs. someone and express strong emotions.”
Quit the stupid jokes. This is called zaghrouta (a.k.a. ululation in English). It is a joyful sound Arabic speakers make when cheering & celebrating. #Shakira #ShakiraXJLoSuperBowl https://t.co/mG2cWpB592
— Elianne Farhat (@ElianneMJF) February 3, 2020
Another explanation, not necessarily excluding the zaghrouta, has its origin in Barranquilla, the city where Shakira was born. During the carnival celebrations in comparsas such as the dance they are in black, the dancers dance moving their tongues, said the tweeter Jaime Blanco.
They are in black is a festival of Santa Lucía, a town in the department of Atlántico, whose capital is Barranquilla, and its expressions have roots in African slaves, explains the Government of Atlántico.
For those who did not understand the significance of why shakira made those
— Jaime E. Blanco A. (@Jblancoa) February 3, 2020
movements with her tongue. She made them because they are part of traditional dance of the carnaval of barranquilla. pic.twitter.com/uXsJPAd654
It is clear that Shakira wanted to honor the Caribbean traditions with which she grew up; hence it is worth concluding that all her movements have an origin in it.
The Colombian artist said on her social media accounts on Monday: "I want to thank my Colombia for giving me the mapalé, champeta, salsa and Afro-Caribbean rhythms that have allowed me to make the Super Bowl that I have dreamed of for more than a decade." .
The champeta, a genre from the Colombian Caribbean coast that mixes African and Caribbean rhythms and that comes from the town of San Bacilio de Palenque —indicates the Cultural Network of the Bank of the Republic of Colombia—, was a central act in the presentation of Shakira, who had shared with his followers the preparation together with Liz, a dancer from Barranquilla.
The champeta, a genre from the Colombian Caribbean coast that mixes African and Caribbean rhythms and that comes from the town of San Bacilio de Palenque —indicates the Cultural Network of the Bank of the Republic of Colombia—, was a central act in the presentation of Shakira, who had shared with his followers the preparation together with Liz, a dancer from Barranquilla.
Les presento a Liz - una bailarina espectacular de Barranquilla. Descubrí a Liz bailando champeta - uno de los ritmos colombianos favoritos - en instagram y decidí invitarla a que formara parte de la coreografía del #HalfTimeShow! pic.twitter.com/hp9ZrVFwPl
— Shakira (@shakira) February 2, 2020
Shakira has not spoken specifically about her song with her tongue and perhaps it is an unnecessary explanation: just watch her show in Miami to understand that there was no free element, it was a tribute to the music with which so many Latin Americans have grown up inside and outside of their countries and that they are the largest minority in the United States.
