Shakira’s new song 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)' featuring Freshlyground is on Listen Up! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album. All proceeds from the song and album will benefit the official 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign, 20 Centres for 2010, and other African charities selected by the participating artists on the Album.
Even more exciting is the contest they are hosting for American fans, who can win a trip for two and tickets to the Final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Johannesburg South Africa! For details and to enter go to: www.listenupalbum.com/contest/.
Listen Up! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album hits stores on June 1st, but you can pre-order your copy now at Amazon.com by clicking here.
The Waka Waka dance is sweeping the planet! Check out these amazing flashmob dances, which were organised in by the Pies Descalzos Fan Club in Bogotá, Colombia (first video) and Club Official Shakira in Venezuela (second video).
Here's an amazing video of the kids from the school in Barranquilla, Colombia which was opened last year by Shakira's foundation, Pies Descalzos. They're all doing the Waka Waka. You should do it too.
Shakira has a challenge for you: can you do the Waka Waka dance? We're looking for as many Shakira fans as possible to do the dance for the organization 1GOAL in support of their project to promote universal education.
The idea behind this campaign is very simple: record yourself dancing the Waka Waka (the dance for the official FIFA World Cup 2010 song, by Shakira feat. Freshlyground). Just follow the steps shown by the dancers in the video. When you have your video ready, please upload it to YouTube and mark it as a response to the instructional video showing at Youtube.com/shakirawakawaka.
People throughout the world have already begun uploading their videos, even FC Barcelona, the newly-crowned champions of the Spanish League, danced the Waka Waka last night during their celebrations.
So, do you accept the challenge?
Join in and let’s all dance for education: 1 song, 1 dance, 1GOAL!
We're very excited to announce that a brand new Shakira song has been chosen as the the official song of the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa. You can see the artwork for the track, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” by Shakira featuring Freshlyground, above.
The song will be performed by Shakira and South African group Freshlyground, at the Closing Ceremony before the World Cup Final on July 11 in Johannesburg Soccer City Stadium. The chorus borrows from a favorite Cameroonian marching chant made popular by the group Golden Voices.
“I am honored that Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) was chosen to be part of the excitement and the legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup,” said Shakira. “The FIFA World Cup is a miracle of global excitement, connecting every country, race, religion and condition around a single passion. It represents an event that has the power to unite and integrate, and that’s what this song is about.”
Shakira continued, “African music is so inspiring and is poised to take its place on the global pop culture stage. I was proud to be able to work with one of South Africa’s most acclaimed groups, Freshlyground.” The song was co-produced by Shakira's frequent collaborator, John Hill.
“We are thrilled to have collaborated with Shakira on Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), especially as we feel that the song captures the spirit and energy of the African World Cup,” said Zolani Mahola of Freshlyground. “We are certain the song will inspire people around the world to celebrate the gathering of nations at the place where it all started. Here in Africa!”
The song will be made available for download through digital retailers the week of May 11. It also will be included on “Listen Up! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album” to be released the week of May 31 by Sony Music Entertainment. A Spanish language version of the track, Waka Waka (Esto es Africa), will be made available in certain markets.
Proceeds from the album will benefit FIFA’s “20 Centers for 2010” initiative, whose aim is to achieve positive social change through football by building twenty Football for Hope centres for public health, education and football across Africa, and other African charities.
Shakira was also recently named an ambassador of 1GOAL, adding her voice to the campaign's call that the lasting legacy of this year's FIFA World Cup be that every child can exercise their right to an education. Supported by some of the biggest names in the global football community and its governing body FIFA, Shakira will be campaigning with 1GOAL to ensure world leaders provide the funding to make universal access to education a reality for the 72 million children currently unable to go to school.
“Through “20 Centers for 2010” and 1GOAL, FIFA and its partners have committed to creating a lasting legacy of education for all – an issue that has been close to my heart for many years,” says Shakira.
In addition to her performance at the final match, Shakira will be one of the headline performers at the official FIFA World Cup Kick-off Celebration Concert on June 10, broadcast from Orlando Stadium in Soweto/Johannesburg South Africa.
The video for Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) will premiere in mid-May.
Today’s your day, I feel it. You paved the way, believe it 
