Colombian music star Shakira has disclosed that she spent almost three weeks waiting for Burna Boy to record and send his verse for ‘Dai Dai,’ their collaboration on the official soundtrack of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a recent interview, the singer said she had always envisioned Burna Boy on the record, explaining that she wanted a powerful male voice to complement the song’s Afrobeat-inspired sound and reflect the spirit of the World Cup.
“Once I had this song, I felt I really needed a male vocal in the song because the World Cup carries a big male energy,” she said.
She explained that Burna Boy immediately came to mind because of his distinctive voice and musical style.
“I was like, who can give me that very masculine voice that I want in this sort of Afrobeats setting? Because this song is very Afrobeats, but it also has some Caribbean sounds and a little bit of R&B.
“I’ve always loved Burna. I always wanted to do something with him, so I called him. I’m like, ‘Hey, are you down to do this?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, why not?’”
Despite Burna Boy agreeing to feature on the track, Shakira said she began to doubt the collaboration would happen after waiting nearly 20 days without receiving his verse.
“It took a while. I was waiting for about 20 days for him to send something and I’m like, ‘Okay, maybe he’s not going to do it.’ But then he sent his magic and it was just absolutely perfect,” she said.
“I was so obsessed about having Burna on this track. I’m so glad that I got him.”
The singer had previously praised Burna Boy’s performance on the song, describing it as the finishing touch that elevated the record.
Beyond serving as the official soundtrack for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Shakira said ‘Dai Dai’ was created to motivate children across the world to pursue their ambitions, regardless of how impossible they may seem.
She added that the project also draws attention to the importance of giving children greater opportunities, particularly through improved access to quality education.
