Shakira used Cameroonian pop song for World Cup anthem… without asking
If you haven’t already heard the official World Cup anthem, then you will do soon. There’s a slight hiccup with Shakira’s “Waka Waka” however – it’s a copy of a 1980s classic from a group of Cameroonian presidential guards.
Since the Colombian popstar’s song was selected by FIFA as the official anthem for the 2010 World Cup, African radio stations haven’t stopped playing it. In Cameroon however, listeners soon realised that the tune was rather familiar. Even more so for the members of “Zangaleza”, a pop group of presidential guards who came up with the song in the 1980s…
Shakira's Waka Waka:
The chorus is identical to that of the original - listen at 52" seconds. Video posted on YouTube by "edkalos".
The original song by Zangalewa:
Posted on YouTube by "SupraSensibilis".
“Zangalewa was a group of presidential guards who wrote the song for the troops”
Mohamadou Houmfa is a freelance journalist from Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The Cameroonians are actually very proud of the remake. In cybercafés you see both versions of the song playing on repeat. Young people don't know the original as it came out in 1986. [Zangalewa released four albums - the one that included the song in question was awarded ‘record of the year' in Cameroon]. But the older generations know the clip off by heart, especially the bit with the presidential guards' parade. The song was released just after television arrived in the country so we remember it well.
Zangalewa [formed in 1984] was a group of presidential guards who wrote the song for the troops. They even sung part of the song in Beti, a dialect from the south.
This could prove to serve as an opportunity for the group who are talking about reforming now. It's also something positive for the Cameroonian players, who will be proud to think that the song comes from their country."
Comments
WE ALL KNOW
Submitted by bc (not verified) on Thu, 10/06/2010 - 04:48.ok, maybe not everybody but most of us from latinamerica know that this songs comes from a band in Cameroon from the 80's I mean we don't know what waka waka zagalewa means but we know it's from an old hit in Africa, and we are happy to know some sound from there, even if it's just a little part from the song. I think it's great that she made the song known in the world and it's really sticky. everybody loves it!! you should be proud!!
Shakira was so NOT smart.
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Tue, 08/06/2010 - 15:53.Shakira was so NOT smart. can you imagine if she did this song with Zangalewa? imagine how big the song will get? I don't even understand why fifa picked a song by a non-african for a world cup in africa. it should be a song with some crazy drums
like that
Submitted by mérimé on Wed, 26/05/2010 - 19:25.cameroon is the father land of great resources/talents but can use them to propage its own image.we better start using our culture to make us being known.football is not all
ONE SPIRIT........AFRICA
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 17/05/2010 - 07:28.WELL AM CAMEROONIAN, IM PROUD TO LISTEN TO THIS NEW VERSION.
I THINK FIFA HAD THEIR SELECTIVITY BASED ON THE ORIGINALITY.
SINCE ITS AFRICA, AND WE ARE THERE FOR THE 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP JAMBOURY.
WELL IS GOING TO BE A PLUS TO OUR TEAM AND THE REST OF AFRICAN'S TEAMS. CUZ ITS OUR MUSIC, AND ITS FLOWS IN OUR SPIRITS. ITS GOING TO MOLTIVATE US TO HIGHER HIGHTS.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO AFRICA
OUR CONTINENT, OUR CUP.
ONE BLOOOD ONE SPIRIT ONE...............
you're right
Submitted by BC (not verified) on Thu, 10/06/2010 - 04:55.I think you are right!! I wish i was in Africa, but i love the song,, i've never heard something like that before, obviously i didn't look for music like that but know i heard it's nice i'll look for some african songs as exciting as she did it
lol blood
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Tue, 18/05/2010 - 10:14.lol blood
cup song
Submitted by Unregistered userjoseph walker (not verified) on Sun, 16/05/2010 - 19:07.Who cares,apart from our moronic broadcasters and media in the west.Personally could never quite figure out if these singers are trying to tell us How sexy they are, and dont worry about the song.Ask our experts in the west ,our broadcasters seem to have an endless abundance of experts to inform us .
Shakira
Submitted by Xochitl (not verified) on Sun, 16/05/2010 - 19:01.Great song Shakira!
Shakira tries so hard to
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Sun, 16/05/2010 - 15:57.Shakira tries so hard to illicit sexual reaction from her audience. If her songs are "so good" why does she need to try so hard to get people to wanna do her? I can't think of any reason anyone would listen to her version. She's not even African, and yet she personalizes it as if it were her own. Someone has to teach these people some manners. All-in-all, she made a super unoriginal song that she sexualized so she could get cashes. Great. What a fake.
She made a good thing better
Submitted by Benjamin Kofa Fyneah (not verified) on Sun, 16/05/2010 - 13:35.Copyrights aside Shakira made a GOOD song BETTER. This is a win-win situation.
Relax and enjoy the music !