Where Did Waka Waka Royalties for Africa Go?
Fifteen years after the electrifying success of “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)”—the official anthem of the 2010 FIFA World Cup—questions are resurfacing about the fate of the royalties meant to benefit African charities. Despite its global smash—garnering over 4.3 billion views on YouTube and almost a billion Spotify streams—evidence of charitable distribution remains unclear. According to Freshlyground, the South African band that collaborated with Shakira on the track, clarity has been elusive. Co-founder Simon Attwell revealed that while the original agreement stated proceeds would aid African causes, the details of the charity beneficiaries have shifted over time from being chosen by artists to being allocated solely by Shakira, then handed over to FIFA’s “20 Centres for 2010” initiative. But here’s the twist—the “20 Centres for 2010” campaign reportedly concluded in 2014. That means royalties have continued flowing ever since, […]