Song of the Day – Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean – Hips Don’t Lie (2006)

Professor, really? Yes! Shakira provides a roundabout introduction to an important theme for the week to come: the mix of cultures – transculturation – that is so important to Latin American history. The beat is cumbia, the Afro-Indigenous musical tradition that lies at the heart of so much Latin American music. We’ve got Shakira, “Queen of Latin Music,” one of the most influential musical artists of our time. Born in Columbia, with Spanish and Lebanese ancestry, her story reflects the diversity of Latin American experiences. And then we have Wyclef Jean, Haitian-American rapper and producer. The song went to #1 in 55 countries…