A Flawed Homage Or An Unintentional Revival?: The Story of Waka-Waka, Shaikra & Zangalewa
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With the Euro 2024 final just two weeks away, the excitement is building as football fans worldwide eagerly await this prestigious tournament’s closing.
Music has long been an integral part of football culture.
Many of us grew up listening to iconic World Cup songs like Shakira’s “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” and K’naan’s “Wavin’ Flag,” We Are One (Ole Ola)” by Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte - the list goes on.
These songs are not just reminiscent of simpler times; they have grown to symbolize global unity and joy, years after their release.
However, calling “Waka Waka” a Shakira song is not entirely true. It is almost an identical copy of ‘Zangalewa,’ a song by the Cameroonian group The Golden Sounds, primarily composed of military members.
This song is originally from Cameroon, but how it was created is relatively unknown. Some say that the song’s lyrics are a complaint by one soldier while others mention it was either in remembrance of the African soldiers in World War II or even an accusation of Africans who cooperated with European colonial lords.
It is widely used across Africa by soldiers, policemen, boy scouts, sportsmen, and their supporters during training or rallies, especially in Cameroon, where it’s sung as a marching song.
‘Zangalewa’ was released in 1986 and also gained popularity in Shakira’s native Colombia.
According to Bakwa Magazine, the group became aware of the vast similarities between their song and Shakira’s ahead of the World Cup. Ze Bella, the group’s leader, expressed pride that a World music icon had remixed their song as the World Cup anthem but expected proper credit and compensation.
Sony and Shakira (no doubt with a nod from FIFA) acted quicker than a Uruguayan defender tackling a striker. They agreed to recognize Zangalewa’s copyright, arrange payment compensation, and now called the song ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).’
Ultimately, how “Waka Waka” is viewed—as either controversial appropriation, a flawed homage, or an unintentional revival of the original—is a matter for each listener to decide.
Music has long been an integral part of football culture.
Many of us grew up listening to iconic World Cup songs like Shakira’s “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” and K’naan’s “Wavin’ Flag,” We Are One (Ole Ola)” by Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte - the list goes on.
These songs are not just reminiscent of simpler times; they have grown to symbolize global unity and joy, years after their release.
However, calling “Waka Waka” a Shakira song is not entirely true. It is almost an identical copy of ‘Zangalewa,’ a song by the Cameroonian group The Golden Sounds, primarily composed of military members.
This song is originally from Cameroon, but how it was created is relatively unknown. Some say that the song’s lyrics are a complaint by one soldier while others mention it was either in remembrance of the African soldiers in World War II or even an accusation of Africans who cooperated with European colonial lords.
It is widely used across Africa by soldiers, policemen, boy scouts, sportsmen, and their supporters during training or rallies, especially in Cameroon, where it’s sung as a marching song.
‘Zangalewa’ was released in 1986 and also gained popularity in Shakira’s native Colombia.
According to Bakwa Magazine, the group became aware of the vast similarities between their song and Shakira’s ahead of the World Cup. Ze Bella, the group’s leader, expressed pride that a World music icon had remixed their song as the World Cup anthem but expected proper credit and compensation.
Sony and Shakira (no doubt with a nod from FIFA) acted quicker than a Uruguayan defender tackling a striker. They agreed to recognize Zangalewa’s copyright, arrange payment compensation, and now called the song ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).’
Ultimately, how “Waka Waka” is viewed—as either controversial appropriation, a flawed homage, or an unintentional revival of the original—is a matter for each listener to decide.
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