Shakira’s Super Bowl Zaghareet, Explained
Towards the end of her Super Bowl Halftime show performance, Shakira looked into the camera and let out a cry that became an instant meme. Twitter, as it often does, had a lot of fun with this.
As it turns out, there was some deep cultural significance to what she did. Per Arab America, “‘Zaghrouta’ is best described in English as ‘ululation.’ It is a form of a long, wavering, high-pitched vocal sound representing trills of joy. It is produced by emitting a high pitched loud voice accompanied by a rapid back and forth movement of the tongue. Ululation is usually used by women in the Middle East and North Africa and is commonly performed in weddings, parties, celebrations and sometimes in funerals to honor someone and to express strong emotions.”
“The origin of ‘Zaghareet’ or Ululation dates back to the pre-Islamic era, as it was a traditional ritual of idolatry practiced collectively by women asking the idols for relief, mercy, rain…etc. In addition to drumbeats, they also used ululation to stimulate excitement on battlefields.”
The sound is made at lots of different occasions, including at weddings and engagement parties, at the birth of a baby or after an election has been won, according to Arab America.
Shakira was paying tribute to her roots: per Fast Company, her father was born in New York City to Lebanese parents and later immigrated to Colombia where she was born. Shakira’s name is actually Arabic for “grateful” or “full of grace.”
The gesture clearly meant a lot to the Middle Eastern community:
You really have to understand how huge Shakira’s performance was for the Middle Eastern community. She had belly dancing, a mijwiz and a derbeke, performed “Ojos Asi” which was one of the few Shakira songs to have Arabic in it, did a Zaghrouta, all love on the biggest stage
— Danny Hajjar داني حجار (@DanielGHajjar) February 3, 2020
Quit the stupid jokes. This is called zaghrouta (a.k.a. ululation in English). It is a joyful sound Arabic speakers make when cheering & celebrating. #Shakira #ShakiraXJLoSuperBowl https://t.co/mG2cWpB592
— Elianne Farhat (@ElianneMJF) February 3, 2020
Hilarious that some people just learning that Shakira is half Lebanese after she did the Arabic zaghrouta aka ululation during the #PepsiHalftime. Folks, she's been bellydancing for decades- how did people not know she's of Arab heritage?!! #SuperBowl
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) February 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/saraddng/status/1224144733792034817
I hate to disappoint but Shakira’s tongue expression is called zaghrouta, a way to express joy in Arab culture. It also aludes to the dance “Son de Negros” at the “Carnaval de Barranquilla” where she is from in Colombia. Now you can go back to whatever interpretation you like 🤭 https://t.co/al54ohDTQA
— Paulina Restrepo-Echavarria (@paures12) February 3, 2020
If anyone doesn't know this is called zaghrouta. It is a way to express joy or happiness in Arab culture. Don't forget that Shakira is Lebanese so she is showing part of her heritage. ❤🇱🇧💃 pic.twitter.com/l7jmRmCBHg
— Augostin Almazi 🇱🇧 (@augie_ala) February 3, 2020
