Colombian global superstar Shakira has revealed why Nigerian music icon Burna Boy was her first and only choice for their hit collaboration, ‘Dai Dai,’ the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking in a recent interview, the Grammy-winning singer explained that the song’s strong Afrobeats foundation, blended with Caribbean and R&B influences, made it clear that she needed an Afrobeats star to complete the record.
“Once I had the song, I felt that I needed a male vocal, a male voice in the song because the World Cup carries a big male energy. So I was like, ‘Who’s going to give me that masculine voice and that Afrobeats setting?’ because the song is very Afrobeats with some Caribbean sound and R&B, but it’s mostly Afrobeats,” Shakira said.
The Colombian star added that she had long admired Burna Boy’s artistry and had always hoped to collaborate with the Nigerian Grammy winner.
“I always loved Burna and wanted to do something with him. So I called him and asked if he’s down to do this; he said why not and it took a while. I was waiting for 20 days for him to send something, and I was thinking he wasn’t going to do it. Then he sent his magic, and it was perfect,” she recalled.
Released on May 14, Dai Dai has become one of the biggest global records of the year, enjoying massive commercial success across streaming platforms and international charts. The official music video has surpassed 500 million views on YouTube, while the song has amassed more than 230 million streams on Spotify.
The track gained even greater momentum following Burna Boy and Shakira’s performance at the inaugural FIFA World Cup Half-Time Show. In the days after the performance, Dai Dai climbed to the top of the Apple Music Global Top 100 chart, making Burna Boy only the second Nigerian artist to reach the summit of the prestigious ranking.
The achievement further cements Burna Boy’s reputation as one of Africa’s biggest global music exports, as he continues to break barriers on the international stage.
The Nigerian superstar also made history during the 2026 FIFA World Cup by becoming the first African artist to perform at both the tournament’s opening ceremony and its halftime show, marking another milestone in his trailblazing career.
