The lively audience at Soccer City in Soweto was thrilled by Shakira’s appearance during the final moments of the FIFA World Cup. Her performance during the closing ceremony evoked an ecstatic reaction from the spectators.
Amidst the loud blasts of vuvuzelas, Shakira’s second performance at the FIFA World Cup’s closing ceremony was met with an enthusiastic response from the packed crowd at Soccer City in Soweto. The audience couldn’t contain their excitement, as they cheered and chanted “Africa” in excitement.
Shakira, the famous Colombian singer and performer who had previously made an appearance at the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off a month ago, wore a vibrant outfit from Roberto Cavalli as she sang “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa).” The singer was accompanied by the members of Freshlyground, who collaborated with Shakira on the official 2010 FIFA World Cup Song.
The song “Waka Waka” featured on Sony’s “The Official 2010 Fifa World Cup Album” has become a popular hit with its chart-topping success in over 15 countries and 87 million views on YouTube. The southern African vibe infused in Shakira’s dynamic performance was largely due to Freshlyground’s lead vocalist Zolani Mahola and guitarist Julio Sigauque. Despite the charged atmosphere, the final match between Netherlands and Spain resulted in Spain’s victory with a score of 1-0 in extra time.
The closing ceremony of the event was given a distinct South African touch with the inclusion of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who have won multiple Grammys. Their unique style of a capella music perfectly complemented the sight of mechanized elephants appearing to drink from a wetland created on the pitch. The performances of South African artists, such as Stoan Seate of Bongo Maffin, alongside dancers forming a giant vuvuzela and the words “For Africa,” added to the visual spectacle of the event.
During the closing event, there was a special tribute to South Africa’s music history with a performance by Abigail Kubeka, a legendary singer who worked alongside Miriam Makeba. Her Afro jazz-inspired performance also included Theo Kgosinkwe from the popular Afro-pop group Mafikizolo. However, the multi-artist rendition of “Everywhere You Go” didn’t quite hit the mark. Despite featuring South African artists Jozi, Slikour, and Zuluboy, as well as Nigeria’s 2Face and Ghana’s Samini at Soccer City, the song lacked the same energy as the rest of the event. The track was created for the contest’s South African sponsors, MTN, and featured Kelly Rowland on the digitally-released recording.
The closing ceremony of the tournament was truly a sight to behold, with over 700 performers showcasing their impressive dancing and visual set pieces that summarized the highlights of the month-long event. Former President Nelson Mandela even made an appearance, making up for missing the opening ceremony due to the tragic loss of his great-grand-daughter in a car accident. Despite his brief run around the pitch in a motorized vehicle, the crowd’s adoration was evident, and many considered it to be one of the best closing ceremonies in recent memory. The event was broadcast to a staggering 215 countries, with a worldwide audience of more than 500 million viewers estimated to have tuned in.
