FIFA Anthem That Became Bigger Than Football
The knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026 are finally here. The tension is rising with every match. Back home, however, the monsoon seems to have forgotten its fixture list altogether.
But this isn't a blog about football. Nor is it about the weather. It's about music.
More specifically, it's about the songs that become inseparable from the FIFA World Cup—and why, sixteen years later, one anthem still towers above the rest: Shakira's "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)."
I'll admit this upfront: my understanding of the beautiful game is, at best, beautifully gossamer. My knowledge of music, thankfully, is a little more substantial.
Every World Cup has had memorable moments. Some have unforgettable goals, others have iconic celebrations. But very few have produced a song that transcended the tournament itself.
For me, nothing has ever come close to Waka Waka.
More Than Just a Tournament Song
Every four years, FIFA commissions an official anthem to accompany the World Cup. Hundreds of composers, producers, singers and bands compete for the honour of creating the soundtrack that will echo through stadiums, television broadcasts, promotional campaigns and fan celebrations across the globe.
It is no ordinary song. A successful FIFA anthem becomes part of the collective memory of an entire generation of football fans.
Since FIFA formally introduced official World Cup anthems in 1990, there have been sixteen of them. Yet none has matched the cultural reach, commercial success and enduring popularity of "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted by South Africa.
Even today, mention the 2010 World Cup and chances are the first thing many people hear in their heads isn't the sound of a referee's whistle—it's Shakira singing: "Tsamina mina... eh eh..."
But Was It Really Shakira's Song?
Here's where the story becomes far more interesting. Contrary to popular belief, Waka Waka wasn't created from scratch. Its heartbeat comes from a song released nearly a quarter-century earlier: "Zangalewa", recorded in 1986 by the Cameroonian band Golden Sounds.
Far from being a conventional pop group, most members of Golden Sounds were serving members of Cameroon's Presidential Guard.
The famous chorus— "Tsamina mina, eh eh... Waka waka, eh eh..." —wasn't simply a catchy hook. It evolved from a military marching chant used by Cameroonian soldiers during the Second World War. Over time, it found its way into military parades, sporting events, police ceremonies and scout gatherings across Central Africa.
The lyrics themselves were surprisingly satirical. Rather than glorifying war, they humorously reflected the struggles of ordinary recruits—poor food, meagre salaries, exhausting drills—and gently mocked African officers who collaborated with colonial administrations.
In other words, what the world danced to in 2010 began life as a soldier's marching chant with a healthy dose of social commentary.
An Unexpected Journey to Colombia
Perhaps the most remarkable chapter in the song's history unfolded thousands of kilometres away. During the late 1980s, Zangalewa unexpectedly became a radio sensation in Colombia. That matters because Colombia is Shakira's home country.
She, perhaps, grew up hearing the song long before she became a global superstar. So when FIFA selected her to perform the official anthem for the first-ever World Cup hosted on African soil, she naturally revisited a melody that had stayed with her since childhood.
Working with longtime collaborator John Hill, she transformed the military chant into an energetic Afro-Caribbean pop anthem influenced by soca rhythms.
By sheer coincidence, South African band Freshlyground happened to be recording in New York at the same time. They were invited to contribute a Xhosa verse, blending elements of kwela and pantsula into the final recording.
Ironically, those few verses remain the only distinctly South African musical contribution to a song that came to represent South Africa's World Cup.
From Soldiers to Footballers
One of the cleverest aspects of Waka Waka is how it completely reimagines the original meaning.
The military metaphors remained—but the battlefield changed. Instead of soldiers preparing for war, Shakira compares footballers representing their nations to warriors stepping onto the pitch. The opening lyric captures this perfectly:
"You're a good soldier, choosing your battles..." (full lyrics given at the bottom)
The struggle becomes sporting rather than military. The opponent is no longer another army, but another national team. The battlefield is a football field. It's an elegant transformation of symbolism rather than a simple remake.
The Plagiarism Controversy
Of course, enormous success rarely arrives without controversy.
Soon after Waka Waka was released, questions emerged over whether Shakira had copied Zangalewa without proper acknowledgement. The issue wasn't that she had borrowed the melody—musical adaptations happen all the time.
The concern was attribution. Members of Golden Sounds expressed disappointment that the original creators had not initially received appropriate songwriting credit or royalties. Fortunately, the disagreement never escalated into a prolonged legal battle.
Shakira's management and Sony Music reached an amicable out-of-court settlement with the Cameroonian musicians. Golden Sounds were officially recognised as co-writers, ensuring they received both proper credit and their share of future royalties.
In the end, it became less a story of plagiarism than one of delayed recognition.
Why It Still Endures
Many World Cup songs are successful during the tournament and quietly disappear once the final whistle blows.
Waka Waka did the exact opposite. It outlived the tournament. It became one of the best-selling World Cup songs ever recorded, amassed billions of views and streams, crossed linguistic and cultural boundaries, and remains instantly recognisable more than a decade later.
Perhaps that's because it carries something deeper than an infectious rhythm.
It is a rare piece of music whose journey spans continents and generations—from military barracks in Cameroon, to radio stations in Colombia, to recording studios in New York, to stadiums in South Africa, and finally to football fans around the world.
For a song built on the idea of unity, that feels strangely appropriate, the greatest football story isn't about the player who lifted the trophy. Sometimes, it's about the song everyone remembers long after the final whistle.
Listen to both versions here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vQG4yKK7tg&pp=ygUZZ29sZGVuIHNvbmdzIHphbG1pbmEgbWluYQ%3D%3D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRpeEdMmmQ0
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