Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) is a dance and a song, a dream and a wish, a hope and a desire to make the world a better place. It’s also firmly grounded in reality. It celebrates the choice of South Africa as the site for the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer championship matches, and draws attention to needy children on this continent. Waka Waka is the brain child of sensational international entertainer Shakira. You can become part of the greatest viral sensation since college boys swallowed goldfish and started a fad that spread across the country overnight in 1930. No goldfish will be harmed during Waka Waka.
Waka Waka is an inspirational movement, and a call to action that is sweeping the planet. Waka Waka means take action, “do it” – You can “do it” too. Find a partner, or a group, watch the video, learn the dance. Step with the music meant to inspire unity, focus on what we share, celebrate our differences, and help provide the opportunity to bring change and hope to children in need with this message. “This is your day! Raise your expectations! Expect more!” It’s also a contest and every group that forwards a video of their Waka Waka dance to Shakira’s website is entered!
What do you know about Shakira? Your age, sex, nationality, and familiarity with ‘futball’ (soccer to us), the most popular sport in the world, will influence your answer. If you love music, believe there is no life without dance, or are too busy watching FIFA games to answer, you probably know that Shakira is a phenomenal belly dancer; and a whole lot more. She is also a writer, singer, choreographer, and what we are all learning is that Shakira is using her incredible talent, beauty, heart and brains to bring joy to her fans and improve life for impoverished children. She is a “passionate believer that every child should have the right to follow their dreams and get an education.” Shakira was appointed a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, the United Nations children's agency at the age of 26 in 2003. "The singer is the youngest person and the first Colombian to serve as a UNICEF ambassador." Her efforts to bring a better life to children of the world continue, and in March of 2010 Shakira was honored by the United Nations for her work with the Barefoot Foundation, a charity she founded and runs which "provides nutrition to more than 6,000 children in Columbia."
Shakira’s new song Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) features Freshlyground, a South African Afro-fusion band formed in Cape Town, and is the official theme song for the FIFA (Soccer) 2010 World Cup which opened in South Africa last week. "The chorus of Waka Waka is in Fang, a Cameroonian language. The words come from a song that was made popular during the 1980’s, and those in Colombia and throughout Latin America and the world partied to the song, which was more or less a dance song" until Shakira reworked it. Now it is impossible not to feel motivated to get up and dance along. The words Waka Waka mean “do it”, as in a task, and Shakira’s performance turns the words into a celebration of the ability of people from every nation to join together peacefully to share, in this case a great sporting event, while bringing attention and aid to the needy.
Your chance to Waka Waka is an easy opportunity for fun, global harmony, and exercise. Find one or a group of neighbors, friends, co-workers, or family. Watch the video a few times, set your camera to record, and then play the music and dance along, together! Send your video in to join the thousands that have arrived at Shakira.com: Scroll down to Waka Waka: Lets All Dance for 1 Goal, click to watch Shakira say “give every child a chance, 1 song, 1 dance, 1 goal.” Follow the instructions explaining the steps, how to film, where to submit!
If you missed their opening performance, Shakira and Freshlyground will perform the anthem live at the Johannesburg Soccer City Stadium during the World Cup Final Closing Ceremony on July 11. Don’t miss it! Watch with your Waka Waka group. It can be your groups’ finale or the start of something new. Raise your expectations! Expect more! This is your day! Waka Waka.
Yes! At Sensei we are busy practicing and will post our performance soon!
I was in a Brazilian hair salon, and they were playing the brand new video of Waka Waka This Time for Africa. It was the most amazing experience. Everyone in the salon- male and female, employees and customers- was smiling, tapping their feet, or shaking their hips, humming or singing along. I had never realized what a positive and popular force Shakira is. I think she’s great! Didn’t you love the video?
Diane - I think that was part of the charm of watching everyone in the salon enjoy the video. Some were older and some were clearly not going to advance to Dancing with the Stars- but when the video was playing, everyone was smiling and moving and channeling Shakira. It was infectious! Play the video, watch the instructional part- you’ll be smiling no matter which way your arms and legs get going!
Waka Waka sounds fascinating! I'm not much of a dancer - not much at all.