Shakira and Sony sued in Zimbabwe over Waka Waka copyright infringement

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Colombian Singer Shakira - The song is inspired by the 1986 global hit “Zangalewa” by the group Golden Sounds of Cameroon.

With a win for Spain, the football World Cup is over. But the Controversy for the Famous World Cup Song has just started. The Official Song of FIFA world cup, 2010 ‘Waka Waka (this time for Africa)’ by Colombian Singer Shakira is sued for Copyright Infringement in Zimbabwe.

The song is inspired by the 1986 global hit “Zangalewa” by the group Golden Sounds of Cameroon. The song features Zolani Mahola of the South African group Freshlyground, singing in Xhosa, one of the official languages of South Africa.

Earlier this week, El Nuevo Día reported that famed Dominican Singer/Songwriter, Wilfrido Vargas, plans to sue Columbian singer, Shakira, for the unauthorized use of his music in Shakira's "Waka Waka: This time for Africa" song (for the 2010 World Cup).

But if the authorities were to find Shakira guilty of plagiarism, $11 million is like one strand of her knappy cat hair. So it’s likely that Waka-Waka will continue.

There was a speculation in the last few months that Wilfrido Vargas wanted to sue Shakira for the Chorus of Waka Waka but apparently now is official. (Websites, tabloids etc) He is suing her for 11 MILLION!

Here's the background info: Wilfrido Vargas is a Latin Merengue singer, he created a group of female singers called Las Chicas CAN CAN.

This group used to perform a song called "El negro no puede". Which has the WAKA WAKA chorus.

What Wilfrido is Forgetting that the chorus was not written by him, but from the group Golden Sounds from Cameroon from their song ZANGALEWA.

They allege Shakira and her label Sony, have stolen music and lyrics from their preexisting 1980's song “Zangalewa.” The group found out about the song theft the hard way, like most copyright holders whose works are infringed, receiving a nasty shock whilst listening to the radio one day. 

Another African artist in Cameroon, Kéké Kassiry, spotted elements of his preexisting copyrighted works in "Waka Waka" as well. He has joined with Golden Sounds and have initiated litigation against Shakira and Sony. Really, at the end of the day, what does Shakira or Sony known about African music. 

It is not uncommon in Hollywood for multiple artists' preexisting works to be infringed for the same derivative song. During a legal case against chronic copyright thief, Mariah Carey, a recording studio worktape revealed the singer stealing an indie artist's copyrighted song. 

Carey was heard on the official studio worktape, talking about items to pilfer from the unknown's song and pairing it with other elements she was taking from a preexisting, released, George Michael track, all without permission or payment, for the same tune she was recording.

African artistes accuse Shakira

Posted on Thursday 15 July 2010 - 15:42 - FIFA World Cup 2010 song Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) written and performed by Colombian-born singer Shakira is stirring copyright controversies. Initially, it aroused some consternation among some Africans, especially those in the music world, why an African artiste was not chosen to do a song destined for a World Cup hosted in Africa.

But now, it’s getting deeper as some African musicians have begun to accuse Shakira of plagiarizing the rhythm and lyrics of Waka Waka, and are demanding compensation for copyright infringement.

First, the Cameroonian mid-80s musical group Golden Sounds (now called Zangalewa) publicly accused Shakira of using without permission their 1985 title “Zangalewa”, which now sounds “Saminamina” in Shakira’s remix...

Immediately after Golden Sounds’ proclamation, another African singer this time from Cote D’Ivoire - Kéké Kassiry – said Waka Waka belonged to him originally. In an interview with Ivorian newspaper Notre Voie, Kassiry declared that he recorded his version in 1986 and duly registered its right with a copyright society in France... 

Zimbabwe Government website