Shakira found a new family in the dance troupe that joined her during the World Cup halftime show last month.
In an emotional new Instagram post on Monday, August 3, the Colombian superstar revealed she spent a few days off-stage bonding with Uganda’s Ghetto Kids, whom she has grown to love as “children of [her] own.”
“These past few days have been filled with inexplicable love,” Shakira, 49, wrote alongside photos and videos from their time together “filled with inexplicable love.”
“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 they go to and touch every person you meet,” she continued.
The Grammy-winner admitted it was “too hard to say goodbye” to the kids, who changed her worldview. “You proved to us that we can love each other no matter where we come from, regardless of what we have or lack,” she noted.
“And though you are from another continent, live in a different culture, and speak another language, now I love you like you are children of my own and this time with you has made me realize yet again that every child in the world should be treated and loved like our own,” Shakira continued. “Children come to this world through their mothers and fathers, but they are all of our responsibility and belong to all of us.”
She then thanked each of the eight children — Ivan, Ricky, Joseph, Brighton, Kesha, Jojo, Ciara, and Ketra — “for being exactly who you are and teaching us the most valuable lessons about life and our purpose in it.”
“We love you always and forever!” Shakira concluded the post.
The Ghetto Kids are a dance and singing group created by Dauda Kavuma in 2014, comprising kids from an orphanage in Uganda.
The group joined Shakira and Burna Boy on the FIFA World Cup Finals stage on July 19 to deliver a historic performance of their 2026 World Cup anthem, Dai Dai.
