Pop superstar Shakira has ignited controversy with the release of the official FIFA 2026 World Cup song, 'Dai Dai,' after a 10-second clip from the music video sparked accusations of racism and cultural insensitivity. The track, which features football icons Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Cristiano Ronaldo declaring they are 'ready' for the tournament, has drawn sharp criticism for its portrayal of Africa.
Backlash Over Depiction of African Children
The disputed clip shows Shakira dancing alongside several children in what appears to be a desert setting with huts, leading many viewers to accuse the singer of perpetuating harmful stereotypes. Social media erupted with comments calling out the imagery as reductive and offensive.
One fan posted, 'Africa isn't all just huts and villages, and I wish she'd stop pushing this stereotype. There are so many beautiful parts.' Another wrote, 'Y'all should go tell Shakira to leave Africa alone and start exploring her own culture for a change.'
A third comment read, 'Portraying Africa as a barren wasteland as usual! Mass dislike this stupid video when it comes out.' Another user added, 'I was born in Africa and lived in multiple African countries, but I barely see huts... This is stupidly irritating! Why is this music video depicting Africa so poorly? Besides, the world is literally in North America! What the heck!!!'
A fifth critic directly addressed Shakira, saying, '@shakira stop putting these racist images of Africa and African children in your videos. This World Cup has nothing to do with Africa, yet here you are reinforcing racist, harmful, and archaic imagery. It's 2026, travel and grow up! Racist!'
No Official Response Yet
Despite the mounting backlash, neither Shakira nor her team has issued an official response. The music video for 'Dai Dai,' directed by Hannah Lux Davis and shot in Miami, has already amassed over 10 million views on YouTube. The video opens with Shakira atop Mexico City's iconic Angel of Independence before transitioning to scenes of her dancing with children in a desert landscape. Nigerian artist Burna Boy also appears in the clip, drawing criticism as well.
The controversy underscores ongoing debates about representation and cultural sensitivity in global entertainment. As the FIFA 2026 World Cup approaches, the song remains a focal point of discussion, with fans divided over its artistic merit versus its perceived insensitivity.
