Global pop singer Shakira has disclosed why she chose Nigerian Afrobeats singer Burna Boy for the official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem, Dai Dai, saying she wanted a strong masculine voice to complement the song’s Afrobeat-inspired sound.
In an interview with Jimmy Hill for the Capital Evening Show on July 8, the Colombian singer claimed the song’s energy and melodic direction made Burna Boy the ideal collaborator.
“Well, once I had the song, I felt that I really needed a male vocal, a male voice in the song.
“I don’t know, because the World Cup carries a big male energy, you know? And so I was like, “Who can give me that, you know, very masculine voice that I want in this sort of like Afrobeat setting?” she said.
According to Shakira, the song incorporates several musical influences but is primarily based on Afrobeats.
“Because this song is very Afrobeat-y, but it also has some Caribbean sounds and a little bit of, like, R&B-ish, but it’s mostly Afrobeat,” she explained.
The Grammy-winning singer went on to say that she has long liked Burna Boy’s work and wants to collaborate with him.
“And I always loved Burna. I always wanted to do something with him,” she said.
Shakira revealed that although Burna Boy initially took about 20 days to send his contribution, she never stopped hoping the collaboration would happen.
“So I called him. I’m like, ‘Hey, are you down to do this?’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, why not?’
“It took a while. I was waiting for 20 days for him to send something. And I’m like, ‘Okay, maybe he’s not going to do it.’”
She stated that the wait proved worthwhile after Burna Boy eventually delivered his verse.
“But then he sent his magic, and it was just absolutely perfect.
“I think his voice is just… It works so well on this song. So well. I couldn’t imagine anybody else on it, actually.”
Shakira also admitted she had been determined to secure Burna Boy’s participation on the record.
“I was so obsessed about having Burna on this track. I’m so glad that I got him,” she said.
Chronicle NG reported that Dai Dai served as the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Shakira and Burna Boy originally played the song during the tournament’s opening ceremony on June 11, 2026, at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca.
The duo reunited for another performance for the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show on July 19, 2026, in MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where they were joined by Uganda’s Ghetto Kids dance troupe.
Shakira’s latest contribution to FIFA World Cup music follows the popularity of the 2010 tournament’s official song, Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).
Burna Boy’s performance also demonstrated Afrobeats’ expanding influence on the global music scene, with Dai Dai emerging as one of the tournament’s most popular songs.
