WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WAKA WAKA ROYALTIES

It’s been 15 years since South African band Freshlyground recorded the hit song Wake Waka (This Time For Africa), but still, no questions regarding their royalties have been answered.

The song, recorded with Colombian singer Shakira, was a massive hit as the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In the 15 years since it was released, the track continues to generate revenue across the globe.

Simon Atwell is Freshlyground’s manager and has been asking the same questions since 2013. At the time of recording, the band agreed to have funds linked to the song donated to charitable causes.

But whether that has happened is something no one can confirm.

Atwell told 702 Drive during an interview that he asked the same question at the beginning of the year again.

‘With the continued success of the song… The band started asking questions. At the beginning of this year, I made some more enquiries, and we would love to know which African charities have been benefiting from all the money.

The only answer that Atwell has received since the initial agreement was that funds were transferred to FIFA and that they allocated the funds to the 20 Centres for the 2010 initiative. But that initiative has since ceased to operate.

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