GLOBAL PRAISE: Colombian pop superstar Shakira has revealed why she chose Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Burna Boy for the official 2026 FIFA World Cup song, saying she was determined to have him on the record.
Speaking on the Capital Evening Show with Jimmy Hill, Shakira said she wanted a powerful male voice to complement the track, “Dai Dai,” and believed Burna Boy was the perfect choice.
“I have always loved Burna. I was obsessed with getting him on the track, so I called him,” she said.
Shakira added that working with the Nigerian superstar was a memorable experience, insisting she could not picture anyone else on the song.
“I couldn’t imagine anybody else on it, actually,” she said.
Since its release, “Dai Dai” has achieved major global success, becoming the first song to top Spotify’s Global Music Video Chart. The collaboration also helped Burna Boy become the first African artiste to reach No. 1 on the Apple Music Global Top Songs chart.
The project further saw Burna Boy set a new record for the highest monthly listeners by an African artiste, reaching 53 million on Spotify and 600 million on YouTube Music.
He also made history as the first African artiste to perform at the FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show.