Just hours after the 21-foot statue of Latino singer Shakira was unveiled in her home town, eagle-eyed fans have spotted a spelling blunder on the plaque.
Fans were quick to point out the mistake on the towering statue in Barranquilla, Colombia which is said to capture the singer’s iconic belly dance.
A spectacular ceremony, attended by Barranquilla mayor Jaime Pumarejo Heins and the singer’s parents, William Mebarak and Nidia Ripoll, turned heads and sparked excitement among fans of the Hips Don’t Lie songstress. But the spelling blunder tinged the grand event with a touch of embarrassment.
The inscription, meant to encapsulate Shakira’s impact on the world, left followers puzzled and slightly amused.
The plaque reads: “On 2 January 1977, born in Barranquilla for the world: A heart that composes, hips that don’t lie, unparalleled talent, a voice that moves masses, and bare feet that march for the good of childhood and humanity.
“Shakira’s sculpture cast in 6.50 metres of bronze performing her iconic belly dance.
“The end of her skirt in aluminium symbolises the waves of the sea and the river.
“Her raised arms and hands interlocked vertically represent the reach of transcendence.
“Made by artist Yino Márques in the La Paz neighbourhood with the support of students and graduates of the District School of Arts.”
The names Jaime Pumarejo Heins and Yino Márquez appear below the quote.
Fans were left confused why the sculptor’s name was spelt in two different ways.
One follower, David, said: “Can someone please explain whether the artist’s last name is with an S or a Z? This kind of mistake really annoys me. I appreciate the tribute, but this detracts a lot.”
The gaffe didn’t seem to bother the 46-year-old singer as she shared the proud moment with her 90.3 million Instagram followers, posting a snapshot of her parents standing beside her larger-than-life likeness.
The three-time Grammy Award winner said: “This is too much for my little heart.”
She added: “I am very excited about this tribute to Colombian women and to the ladies from Barranquilla inside and outside of my homeland!”
