Time For Africa?

The FIFA world cup 2010 was supposed to be the time for Africa to shine, and shine we did. I had never seen a country unite to the degree that South Africa did between the 11th of June and 11th of July 2010. Flags waved from every surface, and of course you couldn't go anywhere without hearing someone belting out "sum-ie-na-me-na-eh-eh-waka-waka-eh-eh" without having a clue what it meant.

"Waka Waka" was the song chosen as the FIFA world cup anthem for 2010, and of course it was an instant hit, climbing to the top of many charts, and being played incessantly on the radio. Although many South Africans were offended by the fact that a Columbian singer- Shakira- was singing the anthem for this "African world cup", everyone took heart in the fact that at least brilliant local band Freshly Ground featured in the song with her.

Imagine my horror then when seeing the video for this song on MTV and realising that only Shakira was being credited. Although Freshly Ground clearly appeared in the video, the song was cited as "Waka Waka- Shakira". Do you see my unimpressed face? I now have to question whether or not Freshly Ground were given any international exposure at all, and sadly I think "not" is the correct answer here. And thus the lyrics "time for Africa" seem extremely ironic.