I am catching up with some emails since my return from South Africa, and so I promise real soon to write my wrap up about the World Cup and my experience there. In the meantime, I have been following this interesting debate among some of my friends about the origins of the Waka Waka song made famous by Shakira during this past World Cup. As nice as her version is, check out the followings and you be the judge:
Here is Shakira World Cup’s Version in case you’ve been hiding under a rock and have no idea what I am talking about:
Shakira was asked recently as to how she came up with the song, and here is her reply:
Meanwhile, sometime in 1982 this song, Waka Waka (el negro no puede), appeared somewhere in Latin America:
Another Latin American version, Waka Waka Zangalewa:
And a few years prior in Cameroon, Zangalewa Zamina, came out:
I am no expert but it would appeared to me that it is pretty obvious Shakira’s version has had some influence from the two other songs I just posted. I supposed if she had mentioned that and give credit where credit is due in her interview it would be ok, and it would end the controversy. Then again, why should she? Music is a melange of everything and is constantly evolving, no? Just asking!
James Louis-Charles / Haititempo
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Filed under: Sport
Cleary she is talking about the lyrics and not the hook.
Well, had she mentionned that she was inspired by the previous version… I think there is still a lack of honesty and good faith there by giving NO credit at all to the original version(s).
I love Shakira i think she is fantastic.
Have you heard Shakira’s She Wolf cd? I was really impressed with it.