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Shakira selling Nazi-like trinket for El Dorado tour

June 19, 2018

A necklace for sale on singer Shakira's website resembles the Black Sun symbol used by the SS. The emblem is still popular amongst neo-Nazis.

https://p.dw.com/p/2zsik
Shakira performing in South Africa
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Hrusa

Colombian superstar singer Shakira may want to check her online shop for some fascist fare. As pointed out by media outlet Bento on Tuesday, a necklace she has for sale for her El Dorado tour bears not just a striking resemblance, but is identical to a symbol used by the Nazis.

The small gold necklace reads "Shakira El Dorado World Tour" surrounding a sun pattern. That pattern is the same as the Black Sun, or Schwarze Sonne in German, which is still used today in some neo-Nazi occult circles.

Screenshot Internetseite shakira.fanfire.com
The necklace in question is pictured on Shakira's tour merchandise websiteImage: shakira.fanfire.com

Inspired by ancient occult symbols, the Black Sun was incorporated into a mosaic on the floor of Wewelsburg Castle, the ideological home base of Heinrich Himmler and the SS. It was likely adopted by Nazis as significant because of its alleged relationship to ancient Germanic runes and sagas — and perhaps even the round table of Britain's legendary King Arthur.

Visitors at a neo-Nazi concert in the German state of Thuringia in 2017 wore the Black Sun symbol (Copyright xMichaelxTrammerx)
Visitors at a neo-Nazi concert in the German state of Thuringia in 2017 wore the Black Sun symbolImage: Imago/Michael Trammer

Although it is almost certainly an accident, it seems that whoever made the design for Shakira's promotional necklace didn't do much research. Nazi symbols are banned in Germany and, according to Bento, the Black Sun is on the list of far-right symbols to watch out for in at least two German states.

Elizabeth Schumacher Elizabeth Schumacher reports on gender equity, immigration, poverty and education in Germany.