Colombian pop icon Shakira has opened up about her decision to partner with Grammy Award-winning Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy for the official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem, titled Dai Dai. Speaking during a feature on the Capital Evening Show hosted by Jimmy Hill, the global music star shared the creative vision behind the energetic collaboration, explaining that Burna Boy’s commanding vocal presence and distinct musical texture made him the definitive choice to complete the track.
Shakira revealed that after writing and laying down the initial musical framework for the anthem, she immediately felt the piece required a powerful male voice to match the grand scale and intense athletic energy intrinsically tied to world football’s premier tournament. Describing the competition as carrying a naturally strong masculine energy, the singer emphasized that she sought an artist who could seamlessly blend a robust, charismatic vocal delivery into an Afrobeats-driven sonic landscape. According to Shakira, Burna Boy was not merely a convenient choice but her top priority for the project, admitting that she had long admired his artistic output and was determined to bring him onto the record from the outset.
The collaboration represents a fusion of global musical styles, anchoring itself primarily in Afrobeats while incorporating subtle elements of Caribbean rhythms, Latin pop, and R&B. Shakira explained that despite the multi-genre influences woven into the production, the song’s core identity remains rooted in Afrobeats. Recognizing Burna Boy’s pioneering role in elevating Afrobeats onto the global stage, she reached out to the Nigerian artist directly to propose the joint venture. Upon listening to the project, Burna Boy joined the anthem, which has since developed into a major commercial and cultural milestone for both performers.
Since its global release, Dai Dai has achieved remarkable success across international music platforms, breaking multiple commercial records and expanding the global footprint of contemporary African music. The track made history by becoming the first song to secure the top spot on Spotify’s newly launched Global Music Video Chart. Furthermore, the collaboration propelled Burna Boy to new heights on international streaming services, making him the first African artist to reach the number one position on the Apple Music Global Top Songs chart.
The song’s widespread appeal has also set unprecedented streaming benchmarks for African artists worldwide. Burna Boy registered historical monthly listener figures across major digital service providers, reaching over fifty-three million monthly listeners on Spotify and accumulating six hundred million views and listens on YouTube Music. The momentum surrounding the anthem reached its peak when Burna Boy made history as the first African musician to take the stage at the newly introduced FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show, performing the track alongside Shakira before a global audience at MetLife Stadium.
The partnership underscores the continuing evolution of official World Cup soundtracks, which increasingly celebrate cross-continental artistic synergy. By combining Shakira’s long-standing association with global sporting anthems and Burna Boy’s distinct Afrofusion sound, Dai Dai has established itself as both a chart-topping hit and a historic cultural moment connecting Latin America, Africa, and the international sports community.
