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Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Waka Waka' scandal? Shakira and producer John Hill made millions from song meant for charity
The 2010 FIFA World Cup official song 'Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)' was supposed to raise money for African charities, but since 2014, no clear accounting of the funds has been made. The song was a huge global hit. Shakira teamed up with American producer John Hill and South African band Freshlyground. It went platinum in the USA, diamond in France, Brazil, Germany, Sweden, and topped charts in 11 other countries, including Italy and Spain, where it stayed number one for over 15 weeks. Its YouTube video has over 4.3 billion views, and it has nearly 1 billion Spotify streams, as reported by Josimar. Waka Waka money problem FIFA and Sony Music announced on 26 April 2010 that all proceeds would go to FIFA's '20 Centers for 2010' campaign, building 20 football-based centers in Africa for education, health, and football. Shakira expressed her joy, saying the campaign supported education, and then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter praised the song as symbolizing African rhythm and identity. Thanks to the song's initial success, the centers were built within four years, but after 2014, the money vanished. Despite millions of streams, views, and downloads, the revenue disappeared without public explanation. Freshlyground asked Sony Music and FIFA, but got no answers. Who really earned from Waka Waka Shakira claimed she wrote the chorus herself, but it was lifted note-for-note from Cameroonian band Zangalewa's 1986 hit 'Zamina Mina'. Zangalewa's leader, Jean-Paul Zé-Bella, said the song was based on a military march learned during service in Cameroon's presidential guard. Their viral video made the song famous across West Africa. Live Events ALSO READ: 266 parks, endless sunshine: This US city was just crowned world's most relaxing - have you been there? The song caused outrage in French-speaking Africa, as the chorus was almost identical to Zangalewa's, with only minor changes ('nawa ah ah' replaced by 'this time for Africa'). Sony Music claimed Shakira co-wrote the song, but media pressure led to an agreement in May 2010. Zangalewa reportedly got $400,000 as an advance and 33.33% of publishing income, shared between Zé-Bella, Eugene Victor Doo Belley, and Emile Kojidie, as per the report by Josimar. Who made money from Waka Waka Freshlyground got 4% of publishing income (0.57% each), John Hill 23.33%, and Shakira 39.34%. Shakira and John Hill kept their publishing rights, meaning they earned money from the first sale of the song, unlike true charity records like Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas'. Freshlyground only recorded parts of the song in New York, under John Hill's supervision, to fulfill FIFA's requirement that African musicians be involved. Shakira barely interacted with them until the World Cup final. The 'master rights' income (from sales, streams, downloads) mostly went to Shakira and Hill, not charities. Streams and performance rights continue generating income, estimated at around $9 million, but only FIFA and Sony Music know the exact figure. Shakira still performs 'Waka Waka' on tours, earning more money each time, while African charities see little to none of it. Josimar contacted Shakira, John Hill, Sony Music, and FIFA; no responses yet. He is also trying to reach Zangalewa's surviving members. The music video, shot by Marcus Raboy and choreographed by Hi-Hat, also featured Shakira meeting Gérard Piqué, her future partner and father of two of her children. FAQs Q1. Did the money from Shakira's Waka Waka song go to African charities? No, most of the money went to Shakira and producer John Hill, and very little reached the charities. Q2. Who actually wrote the Waka Waka chorus? The chorus was taken from Cameroonian band Zangalewa's 1986 song 'Zamina Mina,' not originally by Shakira.
New York Times
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Who should perform in the halftime show of the 2026 World Cup final?
It was announced this week that Coldplay will help organize the halftime show for the World Cup final in 2026. It will be the first time the event will have entertainment in the middle of the showpiece match, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino revealing Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin and band manager Phil Harvey will help to finalize the list of artists who could perform. Advertisement But who should be chosen? We asked our writers and editors — and let us know who your pick would be in the comments below… This is easy. It will be Pitbull, because he is essentially the spirit of FIFA made flesh. Not football, FIFA. Or, Pitbull will at least feature, possibly alongside some sort of EDM act I am too old and too out of touch to recognize. Who should it be is also easy. As much as there is part of me that feels Drake might deserve a right of reply, the only suitable candidate is Shakira. It is not pointed out nearly often enough that Shakira produced a World Cup song that not only is enduring but actually good. Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), the official anthem of the 2010 edition, might not be Nessun Dorma, but it is a genuine banger. I've been to four men's World Cups, and it has been a notable part of the playlist at all of them. In 2022, it used to rise up, uninvited but welcomed, from the streets of Doha, as though it was being sung by ghosts. There was a point during that tournament when it haunted my dreams. But it also has cross-generational cut-through. My son is seven. He was not alive when it was released; the World Cup was held in South Africa. But he knows all of the words. So do all of his friends. As a centerpiece, it would be perfect. The World Cup final would be her day. I feel it. She paved the way. Believe it. Rory Smith Personal choice? Dua Lipa and a cast of global friends that celebrates talent from Seoul to Sao Paulo. But the way the world is going, it is hard to see past FIFA inviting President Donald Trump and his backing singers Elon Musk and Gianni 'Jonny' Infantino to dad-dance on the field to a rendition of YMCA by Village People. Maybe with a sprinkling of Salt Bae. Perhaps sung by Robbie Williams, the CGI monkey turned official FIFA music ambassador. That's the non-serious answer, but perhaps stranger things have happened. Or, perhaps they have not. As for who should it be, my strategic view is that if FIFA are going to do a halftime show and inconvenience old-school soccer fans, then they need to make sure they really capture a cultural moment and entice new fans across the world to tune in. Because apparently, a game that drew an audience of 1.5 billion for the World Cup final in 2022 must still GROW. That may have been Charli XCX's Brat Summer moment in 2024, or, credit to the Super Bowl, they definitely got people talking when it came to Kendrick Lamar. I'm all for it being something that's talked about, provocative and forensically delved into by Variety magazine and ablaze across X and Reddit. Bonus points if buttoned-up senators and congressmen are expressing 'concerns' for the 'family audience' in open letters to FIFA. Adam Crafton There should be some no-brainers. Bad Bunny has to be on the list. He's an international star with crossover appeal as a Spanish-speaking rapper/singer who can draw in fans away from soccer. Beyond music, he has participated in WWE and is a fixture in popular culture. I can't imagine an easier decision. Drake, The Weeknd or Justin Bieber are naturals for the Canadian audience who would also appeal to fans across North America. This also feels like a stage big enough for Beyonce or Taylor Swift, who are also international names. Jason Jones Bruce Springsteen feels like an inevitability to me. The final is in north-eastern New Jersey, where Springsteen and his E Street Band are sacrosanct. Chris Martin, FIFA's celebrity pick for music consultant, is friends with 'The Boss' and has his lyrics tattooed. One option that's less likely but I'd still love to see: Damon Albarn. Song 2 is the platonic ideal of EA Sports' FIFA series soundtrack. He has a vast appeal between Blur and Gorillaz. Maybe he and Liam Gallagher can take the pitch at the end? Steven Louis Goldstein The only answer: Bad Bunny. Who else has a song that's an ode to summer in NUEVAYoL? FIFA needs an artist with global reach, and there are few bilingual artists with deep ties to the United States with as much reach as Benito. He has collaborated with some of the biggest artists around the globe, opening the door for a number of surprise guests. His songs have links to Canada and Mexico, with a 2018 collab with Drake and a 2023 hit with Mexican-American band Grupo Frontera. Wouldn't it be nice to see the host cities unite, even if only on stage? (Or to at least give Drake a chance to respond to Kendrick?) Maybe choosing Bad Bunny will even open the door for a Super Bowl LIV reunion with Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. Or maybe a surprise appearance from Angel City FC investor Becky G. Look, does anyone want a World Cup halftime show? Not really. But did anyone ask for a Club World Cup? Or a 64-team World Cup in 2030? If this is going to be the halftime show no one asked for, at least give fans in New Jersey and New York the show they deserve. There are so many artists that might make sense for an American audience — Taylor Swift, for example — but Infantino said on Good Day New York the performance would be 'global' featuring 'different languages' and 'different countries', and I'm hoping he keeps that promise. (Any Swifties who just read that, please be nice.) Melanie Anzidei If we're talking about the biggest American name to match the biggest tournament in World Cup history, there really is only one answer: Taylor Swift. I think FIFA is going to shoot for global appeal more than an American twist; however, there is too much conflict between the organization's proximity and pandering to President Donald Trump and T-Swift and other big-name American artists. There is undoubtedly a certain type of artist that gives off a FIFA vibe, whether via previous association (Shakira, Ricky Martin, Pitbull, etc.) or just in the sort of corporate, commercially driven sheen they give off (Drake, Maroon 5, etc.) This first halftime show feels very much like it will be a mash-up of those types. A set list of past World Cup anthems would be perfect. If my three-year-old son had a vote, any mash-up would also have to include K'Naan's 'Wavin' Flag,' which was the Coca-Cola anthem in 2010, but still outranks Waka Waka as the greatest World Cup-adjacent song of all time, with all due respect to Rory's son. Paul Tenorio I agree with the sentiment for Bad Bunny. His influence spans across cultures, and audiences can feel that anywhere/anytime he's performing, it comes with high production values and memorable moments for both Spanish and non-Spanish speakers. Additionally, names like Sean Paul, Ciara, and Tyla all come to mind as great options for a mix of legacy and global artist representation. Devin Riley Since so many people have picked Bad Bunny, my first choice, let's try something else. I hate to pick Drake because I'm not even a fan but … he's petty like that! I mean, what else could do more to wash away the pain of being the world's most well-known Dissed Man after the Super Bowl Halftime Show than to get your own iconic halftime show? If I'm Drake, all I'm doing is trying to book this gig. Plus, he's from North America. If you don't think it's Drake, a good strategy for predicting the performer is to look at Chris Martin's (very deep) collaboration history: Rihanna, Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Jay-Z, Selena Gomez…. Quite the list. Hannah Vanbiber (Top pictures: Getty Images)
