Shakira

Shakira in 2011, photo by kathclick/bigstock.com

Birth Name: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll

Place of Birth: Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia

Date of Birth: February 2, 1977

Ethnicity:
*father – Lebanese
*mother – Colombian, including Spanish [Castilian, Andalusian, Aragonese, Cantabrian], Indigenous, African, Catalan, Basque, Galician, Italian/Sicilian

Sakira is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, model, and choreographer. Her singles include “Whenever, Wherever,” “Underneath Your Clothes,” “La Tortura,” “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Beautiful Liar,” “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” “Loca,” “Can’t Remember to Forget You,” “Chantaje,” “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” and “TQG.” She is known as the “Queen of Latin Music.”

She was born and raised in Barranquilla, on Colombia’s northern coast, the daughter of Nidia del Carmen Ripoll Torrado and William Alberto Mebarak Chadid. Her father was born in New York City, New York, U.S., and is of Lebanese descent; his family moved to Colombia when he was a child. Her mother is Colombian, born in Arenosa. Shakira’s mother’s ancestry includes Spanish [Castilian, Andalusian, Aragonese, Cantabrian], Indigenous, African, Catalan, Basque, Galician, and Italian/Sicilian. Shakira has two children, Milan Piqué and Sasha Piqué, with her former partner, Catalan professional footballer Gerard Piqué.

The name Shakira means “thankful” in Arabic. She uses Turkish-Arabic belly dancing in many performances.

Shakira’s paternal grandfather was named Alberto Mebarak Spath (the son of Moisés Isaac Mebarak and Labibe Spath S.). Alberto was born in Cartagena, Bolívar Dept, Colombia, to Lebanese emigrants, from Beirut and Zahlé, respectively. Moisés was the son of Isaac Mebarak and Marta. Labibe was the daughter of Moisés D. Spath and Marie (or María in Spanish) S.

Shakira’s paternal grandmother was Isabel Chadid Baizer (the daughter of Pedro Chadid Raide and Rosa Baizer Gandur). Isabel was born in Sincelejo, Sucre Dept, Colombia, to Lebanese parents. Pedro was the son of Tannus Shdid, later Antonio Chadid Harb, and of Sade Raide. Pedro moved to Colombia in 1895. Rosa was the daughter of Abraham Baizer and Juana Gandur.

Shakira’s maternal grandfather was Tomás Eduardo Ripoll Jiménez (the son of Cristóbal Ripoll Carrasquilla and Elena Leocadia Jiménez). Tomás Eduardo was born in Piojó, Atlántico. Cristóbal was the son of José Antonio Ripoll Ramos and Rosaura “Rosa” Carrasquilla. Elena was the daughter of an unknown father and Magdalena Jiménez.

Shakira’s maternal grandmother was Josefina Torrado Núñez (the daughter of Adriano Natividad Torrado Verjel and Mercedes Núñez). Josefina was born in Ábrego, Norte de Santander. Natividad was the son of Francisco José Torrado Carvajalino and María Victoria Verjel Torrado. Mercedes was the daughter of Milán Navarro and Ángela Núñez Pisciotti. Shakira has said that she has Italian/Sicilian ancestry from her Pisciotti line. She stated this here and here.

Shakira is a third cousin, once removed, of internet personality Manolo González.

shakira parents

Shakira with her parents and partner Gerard Piqué in 2013, photo by Prphotos

Sources: BBC article on Shakira’s Lebanese ancestry – http://news.bbc.co.uk

Genealogy of Shakira (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Baptismal record of Shakira’s father – https://familysearch.org

Baptismal record of Shakira’s paternal grandfather, Alberto Mebarak Spath – https://familysearch.org

Confirmation record of Shakira’s paternal grandfather, Alberto Mebarak Spath – http://www.rodriguezuribe.co

Baptismal record of Shakira’s paternal grandmother, Isabel Chadid Baizer – https://familysearch.org

Records of some of Shakira’s father’s family – http://www.rodriguezuribe.co

Interview with Shakira’s father about her mother’s ancestry – http://www.lavanguardia.com

YouTube video about Shakira’s Catalan ancestry – http://www.youtube.com

Family histories of Shakira’s mother – http://orlandoclavijotorrado.blogspot.com
http://misescritosgloriabarriga.blogspot.com

ethnic

Curious about ethnicity

267 Responses

  1. Aiden says:

    White Colombian

    • danishcookie7 says:

      I think you mean “Mixed Race Colombian”

      https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DcOiWM8U0AIP5Rb.jpg

      • zachbickle says:

        she is white.

        • porkarella says:

          Western asia or middle east are defined geographical terms. they are classifications for people too. People of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan aren’t white cause they’re arabs their races their faces, their culture, their ——— aren’t European.
          Only Europeans from Europe are white, white means European, so they aren’t, your ——– are not white for sure, Europe it’s plenty of them they’re aliens to us Euros in every meaning they have zero in common to us.
          Spaniards, Greeks and Italians are white cause we’re Europeans unlike all those semitic people
          from outside Europe.
          We Italians compared to Spaniards, Portuguese and Greeks are more varied we’re Alpine in the North and Central, Levantine and some Mediterraneans in the South.
          The dark exotic Arabs looking Spaniards, Portuguese, Italians and Greeks are simply the ones of ancient Arab roots cause centuries ago Arabs invaded and ruled Spain, Portugual, South Italy( the dark Italians you identify with are the Southerns not all) for centuries, like the dark Greeks come from Turkish cause they invaded and ruled Greece.
          You Arabs are one of the many black races you’re related to them like in part to Asians too. —— –.

          • andrew says:

            Just for the record, “Arabs” never ruled over South Italy besides a short period of time in parts of Sicily, until they were soon kicked out in a town in Apulia and replaced by the Normans.

          • brnkyle says:

            Did you just called the Turks Arab? This must be a joke!

  2. mayra.santana says:

    It is known she has African ancestry, because her distant ancestors were listed as “Pardos”. And unlike Medellin, Baranquilla has alot of the Afro Colombian diaspora. Dont let the blonde hair fool you.

  3. italiano90 says:

    Surprised that some people (even fellow white folks) consider Shakira to be a White Latina when she used to look like this

    https://i.pinimg.com/originals/94/ad/59/94ad5949a50d5861830fca767b8c95a1.jpg

    • mayra.santana says:

      she is for sure a woman of color. 50% Arab, 25% Iberian and the other 25% African and indigenous. Most likely African because Baranquilla has a higher black population and her ancestors are recorded as “pardos”.

      • caliste says:

        You forgot the Italian and Sicilian ancestry she also has. Anyway, have YOU seen what some Sicilians and Southern Italians look like? Some look darker than her. Also Lebanese are considered white in America, and many of them can pass as Italian

        • andrew says:

          wannabe Italian here?

        • dlxzvs says:

          “lebanese are considered white in america” yea but “america” doesnt mean worldwide lol. Lebanon is in western asia/middle east, they are not white.

          • Aiden says:

            Who cares if Lebanon is in Middle east? Have you seen Lebanese people? At least a half of they are white.

          • guzel says:

            What is white? Ethnocentrism. The real lebanese just like common middle eastern people and they still belong in asian region. Open ur minded people…
            Even korean and chinese could have lighter skin than Southern European people it doesnt mean they are from Europe or considering white.

          • aw omg ty bb says:

            Aiden is right lebanese is white also America is not the world but it controls the world.

          • zachbickle says:

            western asia or middle east are vague geographical terms. they are not classifications for people. People of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan are white as Spaniards, Greeks or Italians.

          • andrew says:

            @zachbickle

            Yes, in the Internet they are even whiter..

            /s

      • Mixed Kidd says:

        She’s mostly Lebanese/European with a little bit of Native American, African, I don’t think she’s 25%. Only way you’d know her percentage is that if she takes a DNA test.

      • aw omg ty bb says:

        haha lebanese are not people of color

      • zachbickle says:

        She is white. At least she is definitely not woman of color. She got so little native american ancestry that it is not worthy of consideration.

  4. Manila says:

    Shakira’s maternal grandfather was Tomás Eduardo Ripoll Jiménez (the son of Cristóbal Ripoll Carrasquilla and Elena Leocadia Jiménez). Tomás Eduardo was born in Piojó, Atlántico. Cristóbal was the son of José Antonio Ripoll Ramos and Rosaura “Rosa” Carrasquilla. Elena was the daughter of an unknown father and Magdalena Jiménez.

    Shakira’s maternal grandmother was Josefina Torrado Núñez (the daughter of Adriano Natividad Torrado Verjel and Mercedes Núñez Pisciotti). Josefina was born in Ábrego, Norte de Santander. Natividad was the son of Francisco José Torrado Carvajalino and María Victoria Verjel Torrado. Mercedes’ parents had the surnames Núñez and Pisciotti.

    Shakira’s third cousin once removed is Internet personality Manolo González.

    Family histories of Shakira’s mother – http://orlandoclavijotorrado.blogspot.com/2010/06/
    http://misescritosgloriabarriga.blogspot.com/2016/02/conmemoracion-al-natalicio-de-un_24.html

  5. Manila says:

    Moisés was the son of Isaac Mebarak and Marta. Correct Alberto’s mother to Labibe Spath S., and she was the daughter of Moisés D. Spath and Marie (or María in Spanish) S.

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