Global pop star, Shakira, has revealed 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.
Speaking in an interview that aired on July 8 on capital evening show with jimmy hill, the Colombian singer said the song’s energy and musical direction made Burna Boy the perfect choice for the collaboration.
“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 blends several musical influences but is primarily rooted in 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 added that she had admired Burna Boy’s music for years and had always wanted to collaborate with him.
