Global pop star Shakira has revealed why she chose Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Burna Boy for the official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem, Dai Dai, saying she wanted a powerful masculine voice that would complement the song’s Afrobeat-inspired sound.
Speaking in an interview aired on July 8 on the Capital Evening Show with Jimmy Hill, the Colombian singer said Burna Boy was the perfect choice because of the song’s energy and strong Afrobeats influence.
“Well, once I had the song, I felt that I really needed a male vocal, a male voice in the song,” she said.
“I don’t know, because the World Cup carries a big male energy. So I was like, who can give me that very masculine voice that I want in this sort of Afrobeat setting?”
Shakira explained that although the track blends different musical influences, it is primarily rooted in Afrobeats.
“This song is very Afrobeat-y, but it also has some Caribbean sounds and a little bit of R&B. But it’s mostly Afrobeat,” she said.
The Grammy-winning singer added that she had admired Burna Boy’s music for years and had always wanted to work with him.
“I always loved Burna. I always wanted to do something with him,” she said.
Shakira disclosed that Burna Boy initially took about 20 days to send his contribution after agreeing to feature on the song, leaving her uncertain whether 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 said her patience paid off when Burna Boy eventually delivered what she described as the perfect verse.
“But then he sent his magic and it was just absolutely perfect. I think his voice works so well on this song. I couldn’t imagine anybody else on it.”
Shakira admitted she was determined to have Burna Boy on the record.
“I was so obsessed about having Burna on this track. I’m so glad that I got him,” she said.
Dai Dai served as the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Shakira and Burna Boy first performed the track during the tournament’s opening ceremony on June 11, 2026, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The pair reunited for another performance during the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where they were joined by Uganda’s Ghetto Kids dance group.
The collaboration marked Shakira’s latest contribution to FIFA World Cup music following the global success of Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, while Burna Boy’s feature underscored the growing global influence of Afrobeats.
