Shakira addressed the controversy in an interview, saying, “I thought that in that way we could create a song that's more emblematic of what the World Cup spirit is — that spirit of tolerance, integration, and that melting pot that South Africa is right now.”

For starters, “Waka Waka” is a pidgin slang phrase from the Cameroonian Fang language. It basically means “do it,” but derived from a shortened version of the phrase “walk while working.” The mystery sentence that Shakira sings before that?

The chorus of the song and the words "waka waka" are borrowed from "Zangaléwa", a 1986 song recorded by Cameroonian band Golden Sounds, which was a hit not only across Africa but also in Colombia, with the help of West African DJs, where Shakira heard the tune when she was a child.

Known as the "click click" language, 8 million speak Xhosa fluently. Zolani sang in Xhosa alongside Shakira for the country's official World Cup song, 'Waka Waka, This Time For Africa,' and continues to use the language in her music.