La Guacherna Honors Colombia’s Roots and Shakira Brought It to the World

Barranquilla, Colombia moves to the rhythm of its own heartbeat. Every February, on the Friday before Carnival kicks off, the city fills with the sound of pounding drums and the glow of lanterns. This is when La Guacherna takes over, a tradition that has long kept the streets alive with its energy and spirit. 

The origins of La Guacherna trace back to the early 20th century, when working-class neighborhoods in Barranquilla came alive with nighttime processions. People carried candles and lanterns, their footsteps accompanied by the sharp notes of the flauta de millo and the steady beat of drums. The parade was a call to celebration, an invitation to join in the revelry that would soon engulf the city. Over time, the tradition began to wane. 

In 1974, Esthercita Forero, the beloved “Girlfriend de Barranquilla”, revived it, reshaping it into an official event. Inspired by the nighttime parades she witnessed in Santiago de Cuba in 1958, she infused La Guacherna with new life and gave it an anthem that still resonates today. 

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Shakira Joins La Guacherna with Her Kids – And No One Noticed

This year, La Guacherna took an unexpected turn. The return of Barranquilla’s most famous artist coincided with the parade’s scheduled date, prompting an extraordinary decision. For the first time, organizers moved the event to accommodate Shakira’s two concerts in the city. Now, that’s a jefa move. 

The singer did not remain on the sidelines. After performing in Barranquilla, she stayed in her hometown with her family, seizing the opportunity to introduce her children to the culture that shaped her. Instead of watching from the stands, she slipped into the parade unnoticed, blending into a group dressed as skeletons. With makeup and black costumes, she and her sons, Milan and Sasha, walked undetected among the dancers, vanishing into the crowd before later revealing their disguise. 

“Proud to show my children my culture and the joy of my people. Long live La Guacherna and Carnival!” she wrote on Instagram, sharing images of the night. Her presence in the parade was a quiet tribute yet it will be remembered as a historic moment for everyone in Barranquilla. 

More than 12,000 artists, musicians, and dancers filled the streets, moving along the traditional route on Carrera 44. The parade, dominated by cumbiambas and the hypnotic sway of the cumbia, also made space for other Caribbean rhythms — mapalé, chandé, porro, and merecumbé — all woven into the fabric of a city that lives through its music. Lanterns remained at the heart of the procession, held high by dancers and spectators, a nod to the flickering lights that once guided the way to Carnival. And Shakira and her kids were there to see it all.  

As you all know, Shak is intentional with her art. In fact, from the stage, she had already paid her respects. During one of her concerts, she even invited the Carnival queen, Tatiana Ángulo Fernández de Castro, to join her in singing Te Olvidé, the song that serves as the heartbeat of the celebration.  

After a successful weekend, now La Guacherna 2025 will be remembered for the rhythms that carried it through the night, the lanterns that illuminated its path, and the artist who returned, not just to perform, but to walk among her people. 

What a treat for Barranquilla – and for all of Colombia.