Video: Shakira and son say 'Hello Lebanon' in Arabic

The artist is in Lebanon with her two sons.

Shakira performed at the ancient cedars of Lebanon on Friday in a mountaintop concert in the land of her ancestors.
The Colombian singer-songwriter delighted a crowd of thousands gathered under the stars near the "Forest of the Cedars of God" in northern Lebanon, where she said she was proud to be singing in the land of her grandparents.

 

What a rush of emotions to end the first leg of my tour in Lebanon! Shak
A post shared by Shakira (@shakira) on Jul 14, 2018 at 5:47am PDT

"Lubnaaan! It's amazing to be in this magical setting, it's surreal, thank you so much for having me tonight," she said after her opening songs, using the Arabic word for Lebanon.
Earlier in the day, she visited the village in Lebanon where her paternal grandmother was born.
"Hello Tannourine, thank you, I am happy to be here!", the 41-year-old singer said in Arabic during a visit under high security to the village of Tannourine in Lebanon's mountainous north.

 

Live from the mountains of Lebanon! En vivo desde las montañas del Líbano! Shak
A post shared by Shakira (@shakira) on Jul 13, 2018 at 8:09am PDT

"This means so much to me to be singing in the land of my grandparents," she said. "I feel so proud of these cedars, so proud of my heritage and so proud of you," said Shakira, 41, to cheers from the crowd.
Accompanied by local officials, Shakira visited a nature reserve that grows cedar trees - Lebanon's national emblem - and planted two saplings.

 

Marhaba!! Hola Líbano!! Shak
A post shared by Shakira (@shakira) on Jul 12, 2018 at 1:30pm PDT

To mark the occasion, a small patch of the reserve was named "Shakira Mubarak" - after one of the singer's family names, Tannourine's mayor Bahaa Harb said.
This is Shakira's third visit to the country. Her first visit came in 2003 and she returnec in 2011 for a concert.
Shakira performed songs from her 11th album, El Dorado, which was released last year as well as classic hits such as 'Estoy Aqui' and 'Whenever, Wherever'. She also belly danced.

What a rush of emotions to end the first leg of my tour in Lebanon!! Shak pic.twitter.com/zUQfvm6Z9X
- Shakira ?? (@shakira) July 14, 2018

Part of a world tour, the Shakira concert marked the start of the Cedars International Festival, one of a number of music festivals hosted by Lebanon each summer.
The artist is in Lebanon with her two sons.
 

• MENA