Shakira, “Waka Waka,” and Africa Solidarity T-Shirts

Mango—Spain’s second largest exporter of fashion—and Shakira’s Barefoot Foundation are launching a small collection of solidarity T-shirts inspired by the official FIFA World Cup anthem “Waka Waka.” Profits from the sales of the “Waka Waka” T-shirt will be donated to initiatives for elementary education in South Africa. One of the schools to receive the profits is the South Africa East Observatory School, also supported by UNICEF, which cares for children who have been orphaned or displaced by civil war or by the loss of their parents to AIDS. A total of four t-shirts, two models for women and two models for men, bearing the printed slogans “Waka Waka” and “This Time for Africa,” have been exclusively designed for the occasion. The models will go on sale at all Mango stores, and via its webpage from June 10.

Shakira, who is originally from Barranquilla, Colombia, created the Barefoot Foundation to seek education and nutrition opportunities for vulnerable and displaced children in Colombia and the rest of the world, in order to produce citizens committed to peaceful co-existence. About the T-shirt initiative, she says, “The true spirit of this World Cup involves making a lasting contribution. We can add to the legacy of this historic moment a platform committed to providing quality education for the children of South Africa and to ending poverty and inequality wherever they exist.” All proceeds will be donated directly to the Barefoot Foundation, which will allocate the funds to selected schools in South Africa.

The artist considers the World Cup event as an emblem of the integration of different cultures and explained that “Waka Waka” tries to represent the African spirit.  She explains, “I grew up dancing to African and Afro-Colombian rhythms in my country. I believe that we are all bound to Africa by an umbilical cord, and this song has sounds from Cameroon and sounds from the Caribbean. [. . .] It is a syncretism of many influences, all connected to Mother Africa.”

Melody, one of our readers, suggests that if you are interested in purchasing a shirt and are in the United States, you go to the following link to Mango’s Canadian shop at 

http://www.mangoshop.com/shop.faces?state=she_001_404_IN#prod=39208003sec=SS10_coleccionbusc=m_temporada_.m_familia_-1.m_tipoTalla_-1.m_precioVenta_-1/.page_0.size_big.rows_3

Shakira will sing “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” on June 10, 2010, in Johannesburg during the official opening concert and in the closing ceremony on July 11. [Also see previous post Shakira’s Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).]

For full article (in English), see http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/company-news/mango/newsdetails.aspx?News_id=87036

For full article (in French), see http://guyzoducamer.afrikblog.com/

35 thoughts on “Shakira, “Waka Waka,” and Africa Solidarity T-Shirts”

  1. Where can we order these shirts ? I have looked on the MANGO website and didnt see anything about these shirts on there ! I am serious about buying one of these t-shirts, but i cant find the place to do this.

    Thank you for the time

    Dakota M Harris

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  4. I’m really interested in getting a t-shirt but I can’t find them anywhere. I would recommend for the organizers/planners of this fundraiser to do a better job at having all the resources available, if they want to succeed with their cause.

    Thanks,
    Ileana

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  6. Me metí a mango, donde supuestamente venden la polera y nada!
    Ojala aparezca el lugar donde comprarla, para poder tener una en mis manitas y de paso ayudar =)
    Saludos!

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  8. I would love to buy several of these shirts but I can’t find them on the mango website. Where are they available for purchase in the US?

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  12. i just went to the mango site and added my e-mail so i will get updates for the store. im hoping that the shirt will show up once they get them in.

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  13. Pingback: Shakira Launches Waka Waka Soccer Shirts | HER BEAUTY HOME

  14. I’m also looking for that shirt with the lion. I really want it. and i haven’t found it…….anyone know where??

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  16. I’ve seen the T-shirts in London (UK) this afternoon and they cost about £23. I know it is for charity, but still, a high-street T-shirt for £23? No thanks.

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  17. Where are the mens t-shirts. I saw the womans on mango.com, but the article says two version for woman and two for men.

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  19. i am looking for the lion face t-shirt and i cannot find anywhere on mango online store or unicef either, Please can someone be so kind to help me with a link where i can buy these t shirts.

    cheers mate

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  20. I know they are selling then in canada and there’s a guy on ebay that has them as well but he’s selling them for $54.00!! he said he had 3 sizes n when i purchased mines he sent me a message that he only had xs…

    I really want that shirt!!!! i live in CA, USA…

    if anyone finds out i really want to know…

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    1. When you go to checkout, the only options for the U.S. are the U.S. Virgin Islands. Does that mean you can still receive it if you live in CA?

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