Ethnic Influence

Waka Waka by Shakira

Music is a wonderful thing that can transport us to new feelings, enlightenment, and other places. When you hear this song it takes you to a place where you feel as if you are a part of African culture.      Africa is a very culturally diverse continent and is reflected within this video.   The people that are in this video clearly show African diversity’s and ethnicities.  For example, this song is obviously about Africa, oddly though it is sung by Shakira, a Columbian native.  The dances in this video are traditional African dances.   Now beyond the looks let’s talk about the music.  I had to do a little research to help me explain the African vibe to this song.  I gathered all of my material from http://andreasgrabner.ulitzer.com/node/1371427.  Waka Waka has a Soca beat, Southern African guitar, and is paired with Afro-Colombian instrumentation and rhythms.  This song has lyrics in English, African dialect, and Spanish; the chorus is a copy from a favorite Cameroonian chant while marching.    Freshlyground is the group that adds all of the African vibe you feel in this song; they have elements of traditional South African music, blues and jazz, with just a hint of indie rock.  I believe that this song is very culturally influential because of the sound, the dances, and the message.  The sound is a unique blend of African Culture, the dances seem to be traditional but, the message is the most influential piece yet.  The message is that we are all Africa, actually Africa has been known as the motherland.  What better way to describe that we are all Africa than have a Columbian as the singer, South African band, and also be the official song for the FIFA soccer championship (soccer is the universal sport).   This permeates boundaries and that is why it is so very ethnically influential.