Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)

When Shakira and Freshlyground's "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" dropped in May 2010, it instantly became the soundtrack to that summer's World Cup - the first ever hosted on African soil. The song's core hook comes straight from "Zamina mina (Zangaléwa)", a 1986 hit by Cameroonian band Golden Sounds that Shakira remembered hearing as a kid in Colombia. That chant, along with the track's Congolese rumba guitar and soca-influenced beat, gives it a pan-African feel that matched the tournament's historic setting.

Recorded across studios in Uruguay, the Bahamas, New York, and Miami in early 2010, the song blends pop with Afro fusion and kwela music. Freshlyground's lead singer Zolani Mahola delivers a verse in Xhosa, grounding the track in South African tradition. The Spanish version, titled "Waka Waka (Esto es África)", was released alongside the English original. Critics praised the infectious energy but some questioned why a non-African artist headlined the anthem for Africa's first World Cup - a debate that faded as the song became a global phenomenon.

The music video, directed by someone whose name isn't widely reported, shows Shakira and Freshlyground performing with choreography that fans everywhere tried to copy. It hit YouTube on June 4, 2010, and as of 2023 has racked up over 3.6 billion views, making it one of the most-watched videos on the platform. The song was performed at the tournament's closing ceremony and remains a defining hit in Shakira's career, still played at sporting events and summer parties around the world. [edit]