Waka Waka What? The original joint!

Did you also find it sad that Shakira got the official world cup anthem with "Waka Waka" ages after K'naan did "Wavin' Flag"? "Wavin' Flag" was way better written and uplifting, minus Shakiras booty shaking? And why doesnt the black girl that is featuring in "Waka Waka" get any featuring credits?

I think an african artist should have had the honor to do the official joint don't you? Think of Angélique Kidjo, Cesária Évora or better yet South Africas own Ladysmith Black Mambazo putting theyre blood, sweat and tears in to a track that would come in to the homes of billions! That would have been something to remember!


I actually enjoy much of the "Waka Waka" joint, I don't blame Shakira for any of this, I think she did a great job and that she is a great artist. True my forehead looks like a shar-pei during the verses at times, but I guess it's my old Hip Hop (pre Hip-"Pop" era) anti-everything comercial state of mind kicking in, I shake it off real quick by thinking of the millions of kids the song appeals to.

Now that we got that out of the way, what I had foreseen as a short post turned in to a long ass lecture. I just wanted to say that I found the original track that Shakira samples and that I am pleased to have a "Waka Waka" I can listen to and spin without having to feel like I'm supporting THE MACHINE! Hehehehe...

The original version is performed by the cameroonian group Golden Sounds and is called "Zangaléwa" (sometimes also referred to as "Zamina mina"). In the video, they wore military outfits, fake beards, stomachs and asses and they made funny dances to ridicule the soldiers. The song was such a success that the group eventually changed they're name to "Zangaléwa". The lyrics of the song criticise the black soldiers that allied with white to oppress they're own people.

Golden Sounds: I SALUTE YOU!



PS: Shakiras fi-iiiiiine!

UPDATE: Turns out 80's merengue girl group Las Chicas del Can from the Dominican Republic did a version of "Waka Waka" back in '82 already! It was called "El Negro No Puede" and its considered to be a merengue classic! Check out the video: