- Davido is the first African artist to sing an official World Cup song
Performers Aisha, Trinidad Cardona, and Davido have teamed up to create one of the songs on the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 soundtrack that is already becoming familiar to those who’ve travelled to the country for the event.
Three songs have been created for the tournament, with one song released in two different versions – Arabic, and in French and Spanish.
Hayya Hayya (Better Together) was the first of the songs to be released.
The catchy tune will likely be part of World Cup broadcasts and advertising campaigns and associated with the round ball game.
Aisha is the only one of the three singers who is Qatari. She said “hayya hayya” loosely translates to “let’s go” and is a celebratory song.
Aisha said she had been able to inspire young girls and other women through her music. She told Al Jazeera she felt she had a mission, “it’s not an easy one, although I’m getting a lot of support”.
“I’m still doing something that’s different, I’m still opening a new door but just being that initiator for other women, it makes it worth it.”
Qatar has a male guardian system that often denies women the right to make decisions about their lives. Human Rights Watch has found women in Qatar must obtain permission from their male guardians to marry, work in many government jobs, travel abroad until certain ages, and receive some forms of reproductive health care.
Trindad Cardona, who is Mexican-American, is based in the United States.
It’s been reported that his father went to prison when he was young and he was then raised by his two mums.
Davido, who is Nigerian-American, also sings in Hayya Hayya. He is the first singer of Nigerian heritage to feature in a FIFA World Cup single.
The trio’s song, which was released earlier in the year, has already been listened to millions of times online and could become a worldwide hit like official songs from previous tournaments.
Ricky Martin’s song Cup of Life for the 1998 World Cup is probably the most recognisable of all FIFA World Cup songs, topping the charts in more than 30 countries after its release.
Other artists who’ve created songs connected to the world’s biggest sporting event have been pop stars Jennifer Lopez, Anastacia, and Shakira, and rapper Pitbull.
Shakira is among the performers who have reportedly said they would not attend the 2022 World Cup due to Qatar’s alleged human rights abuses.
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