[imagesource: YouTube / Shakira]

There’s a solid chance that I can turn around an average day by watching Siphiwe Tshabalala’s magical left foot rocket home the opening goal of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Throw in some K’Naan, with ‘Wavin’ Flag‘, and a few chords from Shakira’s ‘Waka Waka’, and I’m transported back to those magical days.

Just a minor detail to point out, though – calling it Shakira’s song isn’t exactly on the money, given that ‘Waka Waka’ is an almost identical copycat of ‘Zangalewa’, a song by The Golden Sounds, a Cameroonian group comprising mostly military members.

The song is inspired by a popular training and rallying cry used by soldiers, policemen, and others in parts of Africa.

I was alerted to this via a TikTok video that did the rounds on Twitter, which has since been deleted, but here are the basics.

‘Zangalewa’ was released in 1986, and was also popular in Shakira’s native country, Colombia.

Golden Sounds would later change its name to Zangalewa.

According to Bakwa Magazine, the group was alerted to Shakira’s song, originally titled ‘Zaminamina’, and the striking similarities ahead of the World Cup:

In an interview with Cameroon Tribune, which ran a special report on the controversy,  Ze Bella, the leader of the defunct group declared that while they were proud that a “world music icon” had remixed their song as the World Cup anthem, they nonetheless expected to be properly credited and adequately compensated….

Faced with the barrage of worldwide negative publicity Sony and Shakira (probably with the prodding of FIFA which did not want anything that could mar the World Cup) quickly settled.

They agreed to credit Zangalewa and began working out details for a financial compensation.

The song was renamed ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)’, with FIFA making the announcement that it was the tournament’s official song on May 5.

When doing so, FIFA stressed that “the song was written by Shakira, the world-famous singer from Latin America…The chorus is similar to that of a popular Cameroon song made famous by Golden Voices in particular.”

Yes, just similar. Nothing to see here. Move along.

But sure, let’s do a comparison just so we can make up our own minds:

I think that speaks for itself.

That May 5 announcement was far from the final word on the matter:

On May 11, some members of Zangalewa held a press conference in Douala, Cameroon, to inform the media that negotiations were well underway with Sony and Shakira who had agreed to an out of court settlement and that Sony mauling over the possibility of including the single on Shakira’s next album scheduled to be released at the end of the year.

Didier Edo, the group’s manager conceded that it had not been easy to negotiate with Shakira’s manager, Sony Music, and all other interested parties.

A classic ‘out of court’ settlement, so that everyone can quickly move on.

In a 2010 interview, reports Refinery29, Shakira admitted that ‘Waka Waka’ was based on Golden Sound’s song:

“I decided to bring a little bit of my culture too which is attached to Africa with an umbilical cord…I was raised listening to music that was heavily influenced by African music.”

There’s heavily influenced, and then there’s a settlement which involves FIFA crediting Golden Sounds with the chorus.

The origin of the song wasn’t its only controversial element as the tournament loomed large:

The choice to have her perform was met with protest. It was the first year that the World Cup was ever held in Africa, with South Africa serving as host.

The South African artist’s union called for a boycott of the opening concert where Shakira performed, and after much outrage and conversations with FIFA officials, several African artists, including FreshlyGround, were added to the concert’s lineup.

Shakira addressed the controversy in an interview, saying, “I thought that in that way we could create a song that’s more emblematic of what the World Cup spirit is — that spirit of tolerance, integration, and that melting pot that South Africa is right now.”

Bingo – I can’t believe we went this long without hearing the phrase ‘melting pot’.

I don’t mean to ruin your 2010 World Cup recollections, and you can still show off your hip swaying skills whilst listening to ‘Waka Waka’ as you please, but remember to give a little credit to the song’s Cameroonian roots when you do.

Fine, I can’t resist. It’s happening. Take it away, Siphiwe:

[sources:bakwa&refinery29]