Shakira and Anitta premiered their first joint musical collaboration this Thursday, a track that makes the Brazilian the fifth female artist with whom the Colombian has recorded a song in nearly 35 years of her career.
The data is as striking as it is revealing: since her debut with Magia in 1991, Shakira has collaborated with dozens of artists, but the vast majority have been men. Before Anitta, only four women had shared a song with her: Beyoncé in "Beautiful Liar" (2007), Rihanna in "Can't Remember to Forget You" (2014), Karol G in TQG and Cardi B in Puntería. "Choka Choka" is, therefore, a discreet yet significant milestone in a career that does not easily open itself to female collaborations.
Musically, the song is a celebration of fusion. It transitions between Brazilian funk, urban pop, and an electronic touch that lends it a futuristic vibe, with bilingual lyrics that naturally alternate between Spanish and Portuguese. One of the most surprising moments is hearing Shakira sing in Portuguese, a virtually unprecedented showcase in her repertoire, adapting effortlessly to a genre that is not her own.
The lyrics begin with a statement of intentions: "Accelerated, it doesn't behave / What others may think, she no longer cares / They all went out to break the street / This won't stop until it bursts." The spirit of empowerment perfectly aligns with the moment of both artists and the trend of female empowerment that dominates Latin music in 2026.
The official announcement was made last Sunday through the social media accounts of both artists, featuring a promotional image inspired by tarot: Shakira represented as the sun, Anitta as the moon. "You have no idea how happy I am to announce this collaboration," wrote the Brazilian singer when sharing the cover.
The song is released without a joint music video, which is uncommon for this type of collaboration. The reason is simple: the visual material was already recorded by the end of March, before Shakira's participation was fully confirmed, making it impossible to coordinate a joint recording. Anitta has left open the possibility of recording one later, which keeps the anticipation alive.
"Choka Choka" is the second single from Anitta's seventh studio album, Equilibrivm, scheduled for release on April 16 under Republic Records. The album is envisioned as a multilingual project divided into two acts: one in Portuguese featuring Brazilian genres and another in English and Spanish aimed at the global market. The song serves as a perfect bridge between both worlds, symbolically connecting Colombia and Brazil, the two major engines of Spanish and Portuguese music.
The release comes at a peak time for Shakira, who is wrapping up her world tour Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour and is set to have a large-scale residency in Madrid in September, with up to six nights at the Iberdrola Music venue, which can hold 50,000 people per night within the so-called "Macondo Park," a space of about 15 hectares featuring music, gastronomy, and cultural activities.
Next, the other four collaborations Shakira has had with women throughout her career:
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