Shakira to Perform 'Waka Waka' at World Cup Closing Ceremony

NEW YORK, July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Shakira and special guest Freshlyground will be performing the #1 Hit "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)" during the closing ceremonies of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  The performance will take place on the field at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on July 11 at 6:42 local time to precede the final match of the cup and will be available to all FIFA network partners.

Sony Music announced today that Shakira featuring Freshlyground's Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), the Official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, has reached one million singles sold since it became available May 11.  In the history of the World Cup. "Waka Waka" is the fastest-selling single and the biggest-selling World Cup single of the digital age.   All proceeds from the song will benefit FIFA's Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ "20 Centers for 2010."

The song was written and co-produced by global superstar Shakira. The song is as international as the games themselves. It is inspired by an African marching chant, "Zangalewa" made popular by the Cameroonian group Golden Voices and combines Afro-Colombian instrumentation and rhythms with a rousing Soca beat and Southern African choir and guitar. It is also included on "Listen Up! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album™" released by Sony Music Entertainment. 

About Shakira

Shakira is a Colombian singer-songwriter, entertainer, record producer and activist who emerged as a musical prodigy in the music scene of Latin America in the early 1990s. Shakira was born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia. An extreme talent, Shakira has collaborated with American superstars such as Beyonce and Wyclef Jean in addition to performing with Usher and Stevie Wonder at the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. She has won two Grammy Awards, seven Latin Grammy Awards, and has been Golden Globe-nominated. She is also the highest-selling Colombian artist of all time, and the most successful female Latin singer having sold over 50 million albums worldwide.

About Freshlyground

Freshlyground is a South African Afro-fusion band that was formed in Cape Town in 2002. The band members are from South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Stylistically, Freshlyground incorporates elements of traditional South African music (such as kwela and African folk), blues and jazz, as well as features of indie rock. Since 2002 and over the course of its three albums, Freshlyground have become the musical voice of a nation's adolescent democracy. Freshlyground won numerous awards including 4 South African Music Awards and an MTV Europe Music Award for "Best African Act" -a first for any South African musician. Freshlyground have recently been invited to be a 1GOAL ambassador.

Both Shakira and Freshlyground are distributed by Sony Music Entertainment.

About Sony Music Entertainment

Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. It is home to premier record labels representing music from every genre, including American Recordings, Arista Nashville, Arista Records, Aware, Battery Records, Beach Street Records, Black Seal, BNA Records, Cinematic, Columbia Nashville, Columbia Records, Epic Records, Essential Records, Flicker Records, Fo-Yo Soul, GospoCentric, Hitz Committee Entertainment, J Records, Jive Records, LaFace Records, Legacy Recordings, Masterworks, Polo Grounds, RCA Records, RCA Nashville, RCA Red Seal, RCA Victor, Reunion Records, Slightly Dangerous, Sony Classical, Sony Music Latin, Star Time International, Verity Records, and Volcano Entertainment. Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corp., an Official Partner of FIFA and of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. 

About Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in the world.  Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $79 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/

Sony is also the industry leader in 3D innovation and implementation.  With a wide range of consumer and professional products; content creation, editing and distribution; and 3D display solutions for the theater and the home, Sony is the only company with expertise in every part of the 3D environment.

About FIFA

The Federation Internationale de Football Association is the world governing body of football, comprising 208 football associations grouped into six confederations. Based in Zurich, Switzerland, FIFA's activities extend far beyond its broad spectrum of international competitions headed by the FIFA World Cup™. FIFA provides material, financial and promotional means to develop the game around the world, and offers underprivileged communities support through the Football for Hope movement. For the Game. For the World.

For more information on FIFA and its competitions, especially the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, please visit the official website at www.FIFA.com.

SOURCE Sony Music Entertainment

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