Colombian pop sensation Shakira paid a special visit to the Lebanese village where her paternal grandmother was born, according to a journalist from AFP. Amid tight security, the 41-year-old singer expressed her joy in being present, greeting the villagers of Tannourine in Lebanon’s mountainous north with a warm “Hello Tannourine, thank you, I am happy to be here!” in Arabic. Accompanied by local dignitaries, Shakira explored a nature reserve known for its cedar trees, which are Lebanon’s national symbol. As a symbolic gesture, she planted two saplings and a designated area within the reserve was named “Shakira Mubarak,” incorporating one of her family names, as announced by Tannourine’s mayor, Bahaa Harb. Later that evening, Shakira commenced the Cedars International Festival in Lebanon with a highly anticipated concert expected to draw a crowd of 13,000 attendees. This marks Shakira’s third visit to the country, with her previous trips occurring in 2003 and 2011 for a performance. Accompanying her on this visit are her two sons.