Musician Shakira, who sang the 2026 FIFA World Cup theme song "Dai Dai" alongside Burna Boy, has revealed that she featured the Nigerian Afrobeats star in the song because of his unique voice.
Colombian music superstar Shakira, who sang the 2026 FIFA World Cup theme song "Dai Dai" alongside Burna Boy, has revealed that she featured the Nigerian Afrobeats star in the song because of his unique voice.
Speaking to the UK's Capital FM during the Capital Evening Show hosted by Jimmy Hill in an interview uploaded to their YouTube channel on July 8th, Shakira said Burna Boy's verse added a much-needed masculine touch to the song.
Below is a transcript of Shakira's response to Hill's question about Burna Boy's part in the song "Dai Dai."
Jimmy Hill, Capital FM host: "Let's talk about the track with Burna Boy, 'Dai Dai'. How did it come about? As I said, I love it. How did this one come about?"
Shakira, musician: "Well, once I had the song, I felt that I really needed a male vocal, a male voice in the song. And, you know, because the World Cup carries a big male energy, you know? And, so I was like: 'Who can give me that, you know, masculine voice that I want in this sort of like Afrobeats setting?' Because this song is very 'Afrobeaty'. It also has some Caribbean sounds and a little bit of, you know, 'RnBish', but it is mostly Afrobeats. So… And I have always loved Burna (Boy)… Like, I have always wanted to do something with him. Uh, so I called him. I am like: 'Hey, are you down to do this?' And, he is like: 'Yeah, why not?' And it took a while. I was like waiting for 20 days for him to send something, and I am like: 'Okay, maybe he is not going to do it.' But then, he came and like he sent his magic, and it was just absolutely perfect. I think his voice is just..."
Jimmy Hill: "Uh, it works so well on this song. So well, I couldn't imagine anybody else on the track, actually."
Shakira: "Absolutely. I was so obsessed about having Burna (Boy) on this track. I am so glad that I got him."
More than half a billion YouTube views
Released on YouTube on May 23 before World Cup's official kick-off on June 11, "Dai Dai" has amassed more than 570 million views on the video-sharing platform.
Forty-nine-year-old Shakira and 35-year-old Burna Boy also performed the song at the tournament's official opening in June and during the final on July 19.
Their energetic and well-choreographed performances attracted widespread praise from football fans world-over.
The 2026 World Cup, which was won by Spain for a second time in their history, was co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Shakira regarded as World Cup's mainstay voice
The FIFA World Cup theme song is not chosen through a public competition. It is a result of collaboration between FIFA, its commercial partners, and contracted musicians.
Since 2006, with an exception of 2018 and 2022, Shakira has been contracted by FIFA to either perform at the tournament's leading events or produce the competition's official songs.
She has produced the football governing body's theme songs in 2010, 2014, and 2026.
Her collaboration with Burna Boy marked her second World Cup project featuring an African artist, following her partnership with South African band Freshlyground on the 2010 official theme song, "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)."
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