Waka Waka for Africa

The FIFA World Cup is more than just a sporting event, it’s time to get ecstatic, it’s time to go gaga, it’s our time to celebrate, writes STEVENS MUENDO

And then it goes back

K’Naan’s World Cup theme song Wavin’ Flag has probably encapsulated the mood of the World Cup in South Africa.

The hit song has ruled music charts for the last three months and speculations were high that the song would win the bid for the FIFA World Cup official theme song.

The arguments were simple: The song captured the theme of the tournament. It had an African touch and that K’Naan is African.

But when Colombian pop star Shakira was touching down in South Africa on Monday afternoon for her appearance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, it wasn’t K’Naan’s hit which was on everyone’s lips in the Rainbow Nation but Shakira’s Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) — which had stolen the thunder.

The vuvuzela and makarapa mad nation is all jiggy to Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) World Cup — a chorus borrowed from the Cameroonian 1986 hit military song ZangalÈwa (Zamina mina), which means ‘who asked you to come’, performed by the group Golden Sounds.

It is interesting that the _original song was such a hit for Golden Sounds that they eventually changed their name to ZangalÈwa. They released four albums — the one that included ZangalÈwa was awarded Record of the Year in Cameroon. The group was formed in 1984 by a group of presidential guards who wrote the song for the troops. They even sung part of the song in Beti and Fang, dialects from Cameroon.

Soldiers used the tune as a motivational anthem. Critics have it that the song mocked African soldiers back then and does not glorify Africa.

The original lyrics, which are in Fang goes like this:

Za mina mina eh eh

Waka waka eh eh

Za mina mina zangalewa

Ana wam ah ah

Zambo eh eh

Zambo eh eh

Za mina mina zangalewa

Wana wa ah ah

But only hours after two new versions of the up-tempo track, Waka Waka which means ‘Do It’, was released on YouTube over 400,000 viewers had already been hooked to the video by Tuesda — and local Kenyan stations were cashing on the hit.

Shakira shakes

The song is infectiously groovy and has an African touch from traditional African beats fused with modern instrumentation as Shakira’s lead vocals does wonders. And that’s not all as the Africanness of the song is brought out by Freshly Ground back-up vocals. The South African group creates the South African melodic feel recognisable in African music scene.

One of the videos, which come with spectacular sights and sounds of savannah with wild animals celebrating the soccer spirit, brings the feeling even closer home. A cameo appearance of South African popular group Ladysmith Black Mambazo is inspiring.

And today, Shakira will headline the opening ceremony which features a star-studded line up. She will also perform during the closing ceremony alongside Freshly Ground at the Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium.

The dance and fun is on as the flags are waving and doing it this time for Africa.

However, African showbiz stars are still miffed after they failed to win the World Cup theme song bid with Shakira’s execution beating hopefuls such as R Kelly, Akon and K’Naan whose Wavin’ Flag single is a force to reckon with.

Official songs at FIFA World Cup in the past have included Un’estate Italiana by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini (1990), Gloryland by Daryl Hall with Sounds of Blackness (1994), and La Copa de la Vida by Ricky Martin (1998).

Boom by Anastacia was the official song in 2002. In 2006, it was The Time of Our Lives by the Il Divo quartet.

The official FIFA 2010 World Cup album includes 13 songs which feature local and international stars among them Indian musician Salim-Sulaiman.

Though it never made it as the main World Cup theme song, K’Naan’s Wavin’ Flag is one of the official songs. The remix of the song — which also features David Bisbal —is part of Coca-Cola’s global integrated marketing campaign, which is inspired by dance celebrations, a key ingredient in African joyous occasions.

K’Naan, who recently visited Nairobi under the Coca-Cola World Cup campaign programme won the endorsement deal making Wavin’ Flag the Coca-Cola music element throughout the entire campaign. The unity and celebration themed piece is also the soundtrack for many World Cup television commercials.

International songstress, Kelly Rowland has collaborated with 2Face Idibia (Nigeria), Awadi (Senegal), Chameleone (Uganda), Samini (Ghana), Krotal (Cameroon), Rola (Lebanon), Jozi, Kwesta, Slikour and Zuluboy (South Africa) for the tournament’s MTN new track Everywhere You Go. Steve Morales produced the song, which is also part of the official World Cup compilation CD. Kenya’s Eric Wainaina will also have a share on the big stage.

African beats

From the native African beats to the sweet melody, Everywhere You Go tries to capture the energy and fun associated with the beautiful game and the most watched event on the planet.

Guinness also sponsored a song featuring Cobhams and other stars for the Super Eagles.

International award winning R&B king R Kelly is also in South Africa having collaborated with the Soweto Spiritual Singers to sing Sign of a Victory, yet another World Cup song.

"I wanted to get into the (African) mood, so I got books about Africa and football. I believe in doing research on a project this big. "Anyone who didn’t wear anything resembling African clothing wouldn’t dare step into my studio," he is quoted to have told the press when asked about the composition of his World Cup song.

The World Cup craze has already taken effect in Kenya with entertainment spots bracing to cash in on the one-month extravaganza.

Even as hundreds of Kenyan fans travel to South Africa for a first hand account of the occasion, hundreds are expected to flock amusement joints throughout the season to celebrate their favourite teams with friends.

Popular urban joints have gone an extra mile to buy state-of-the art TV screens and projectors to woo patrons to their premises. From quiz nights to music extravaganzas, Nairobi and other urban towns will share the carnival mood being felt all over the world as the soccer frenzy takes centre stage till mid next month.

Transport companies have also made a kill with an inter-country road trip to South Africa offering lucrative packages as hundreds of die-hard soccer fans travel to South Africa.

And before kick-off Alicia Keys, Black Eyed Peas and John Legend will entertain alongside Shakira.

They will be joined by top pan-African stars among them Benin’s AngÈlique Kidjo, Mali’s Amadou and Mariam, rapper K’Naan and Touareg Desert Blues Band Tinariwen.

Indeed, this is more than a beautiful game. It’s celebration time. Are you game?