Escape and Re-colonization of    Waka Waka  : Shakira's Performance at the 2010 World Cup

Mark Goodman; Danae Carlson

doi:10.15655/mw/2014/v5i1/53596

Vol 5, No 1 (2014)
Pages: 84-90
Published: 2014-04-01
https://doi.org/10.15655/mw%2F2014%2Fv5i1%2F53596

Escape and Re-colonization of Waka Waka : Shakira's Performance at the 2010 World Cup

Affiliations
1 Department of Communication, Mississippi State University, P.O. Box PF; MS: 9574, Mississippi State, MS 39759, United States

In 2010, Waka Waka was chosen as the anthem for the FIFA World Cup held in South Africa, and Shakira, a well known vocal artist, was appointed the task of performing. The lyrics of the song present a message of world unity. But, a semiotic reading of the official video presents a different interpretation. This paper examines the conflicts between Waka Waka's lyrics and its cinematography, while delving deeper into its underlying colonialism.