The beat, melody & chorus of the song were used without permission at first.
Shakira’s version has over 10 million sales. In 2010, it was said the proceeds will be donated to charity.
The Cameroonian group, Golden Sounds reached out to Sony for their credit, when they heard the song was being used as the 2010 FIFA World Cup theme.
Sony gave it to them.
Jean Paul Ze Bella, the Cameroonian group’s leader said they weren’t informed at first in 2010.
He also said they are happy the song got worldwide recognition.
Shakira eventually said she heard the sampled parts through 1988 song, El negro no puede by Las Chicas Del Can.
It was popular in Colombia and sampled Zangalewa.
Shakira’s Waka Waka peaked at no. 1 in 15 countries.
It has 2.9 billion YouTube views. It went Platinum in USA, 5x Gold in Germany, Platinum in the UK, Platinum in France, 12x Platinum in Sweden, 6x Platinum in Spain, 6x Platinum in Italy, 3x Platinum in Switzerland.
Shakira’s Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) went 2x Platinum in Mexico, 2x Platinum in Austria, 2x Platinum in Denmark, 2x Platinum in Belgium, Gold in Australia and Platinum in Finland.
Zangalewa’s video was a criticism of African military officers who worked with whites to profit from oppressing their people during colonialism.
It contains military jargon created by Cameroonian sharpshooters to communicate with each other during World War II (1939-1945).