There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding Shakira lately, particularly since her split with Gerard Pique earlier this year. And now, thanks to a post from Arsenal, the conversation has shifted to football. The team released an original version of Shakira’s hit song, ‘Waka Waka,’ dedicated to Kai Havertz.
The chant created by Arsenal fans, inspired by Shakira’s song, has become one of her favorites. It’s no surprise considering the Colombian singer’s connection to football and her history with Gerard Pique. Their love story began in 2010, during the World Cup in South Africa, where Shakira was a prominent figure thanks to her hit song. Pique also had a successful tournament with Spain. It was on the set of the music video for “Waka Waka” (This Time for Africa) that Shakira felt the first stirrings of love for Pique.
Back in 2017, Bunte, a German weekly publication, captured Shakira talking about the inspiration behind her song ‘Me enamore’, which she dedicated to the Catalan people. In the interview, the Colombian singer shared how the track narrates her first encounter with her partner, whom she met during the recording of the ‘Waka Waka’ video for the 2010 World Cup. She described the moment when she saw him in Los Angeles as an electrifying experience that transformed her life forever. Interestingly, it was Arsenal’s ‘Waka Waka’ that captured Shakira’s heart back then.
Although the relationship has ended and feelings have changed, the significance of the song in regards to her career and its influence during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa remains significant. Recently, Arsenal shared a post on their social media platform, showcasing their fans’ chant after their 1-0 victory over Brentford. This video was then shared on her Instagram stories, highlighting the impact the song continues to have. Interestingly, the English club now leads the Premier League 2023-24 on matchday 13, thanks to a draw between Manchester City and Liverpool.
Have you ever wondered where Shakira got the tune for her hit song ‘Waka Waka’? You know, the catchy refrain that goes “Tsamina mina, eh, eh. Waka waka, eh, eh. Tsamina mina zangalewa, anawa-a-a”. Well, initially rumors were circulating that Dominican singer Wilfrido Vargas was going to sue Shakira for using the same words in his famous song ‘El negro no puede’, which was performed by Las Chicas del Can in 1987. However, Vargas himself later clarified in a CNN interview that there was no lawsuit in progress as they both took that particular fragment from the same source.
The individual being interviewed stated that he acquired the song “El negro no puede” from the same source as Shakira, and it was not his creation. He feels embarrassed and insulted by claims made against him, as he questions the validity of the accusations. Interestingly enough, the popular section in Shakira’s “Waka Waka” and Wilfrido Vargas’s song actually originates from “Zangalewa,” a tune sung by various groups, such as soldiers and scouts, to liven up marches in Africa many years ago.
In 1986, the Cameroonian Golden Sounds were the first to incorporate a chorus into their music, followed by Wilfrido Vargas who used it in a Latin American hit performed by Las Chicas del Can. Shakira later brought it to the forefront in 2010 with her iconic World Cup song ‘Waka Waka’. Although the rhythm chanted by Arsenal fans for Havertz may have originated in Africa, its association with Shakira brings to mind her past relationship with Pique, which ended after 12 years and remains a topic of scandal and controversy.
