TAKEAWAYS

• Shakira shared an emotional tribute celebrating the love and joy she experienced with Uganda’s Triplets Ghetto Kids.
• The singer praised the children for teaching powerful lessons about love, kindness and unity.
• The dancers have enjoyed a remarkable journey, from starring in Shakira’s “Dai Dai” music video to performing with her during FIFA World Cup celebrations and other international shows.

Colombian pop superstar Shakira has taken to social media to share a heartfelt tribute to Uganda’s renowned Triplets Ghetto Kids after spending several days with the young dancers and their families in the United States.

The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer reflected on the special moments they shared, saying the children filled every place they visited with love and joy.

“I took you to the beach for the first time in your lives, and we spent time together every day along with family and friends while we were all in awe watching how you transform every place you go to and touch every person you meet,” Shakira wrote.

She admitted that saying goodbye was one of the hardest parts of the experience because of the unique love the children showed to everyone around them.

“It was too hard to say goodbye to you because you know how to give and receive love in a way that I have never seen before,” she said.

The award-winning singer added that the children reminded her that love has no boundaries, regardless of nationality, culture or language.

“You proved to us that we can love each other no matter where we come from, regardless of what we have or lack,” she wrote.

Shakira went on to say that although the children come from another continent and speak a different language, she now loves them “like children of my own.”

She also used the opportunity to call for greater love and care for children around the world.

“Every child in the world should be treated and loved like our own. Children come to this world through their mothers and fathers, but they are all our responsibility and belong to all of us,” she added.

Shakira concluded her message by mentioning the children by name—Ivan, Ricky, Joseph, Brighton, Kesha, Jojo, Ciara and Ketra—and thanked them for teaching valuable lessons about life.

“We love you always and forever!” she wrote.

The tribute comes after the Triplets Ghetto Kids’ remarkable international journey with the global superstar. The Ugandan dance group first featured in Shakira’s “Dai Dai” music video, the official song for the recently concluded FIFA World Cup. They later travelled to the United States, where they performed alongside the singer during the FIFA World Cup Halftime Show and appeared with her at several other events before spending quality time together.