What’s a better hype song, or workout song than “Tsamina-mina, eh eh” playing in the background?

C’mon, this song needs no introduction. As for Shakira, a Regal Lady of Pop and Dance songs, this video is personally my favourite look on her. The editing, the dance – all so upbeat! You can’t help but tap-tap-tap every time this song plays, no matter how old it gets [it’s 14 years old now, thanks I feel old].

So yes, Shakira and the amazingly talented African jazz group – Freshlygroup. A lock here, and a pop there. FIFA world cup from Spanish to English, here we go!

Appendix:
1. Normal: Original Spanish lyric
2. Italics: Translated English lyric
3. –Italics nestled within hyphens–: Random comments that you can safely ignore

Waka Waka (Esto es Africa) by Shakira featuring Freshlyground – line-by-line translation of lyrics [Spanish to English] [Español a Inglés]

La letra
Lyrics

Llego el momento
The moment has arrived
Caen las murallas
The walls are falling
Va a comenzar
It’s going to start
La única justa
The only rights
De las batallas
Of the battles

No duele el golpe
The blow doesn’t hurt
No existe el miedo
Fear doesn’t exist
Quítate el polvo
Dust yourself off
Ponte de pie
Stand up
Y vuelves al ruedo
And return to the ring/arena

Y la presión
And the pressue
Se siente
Is felt
Espera en ti / Tu gente!
Your people’s hopes are on you

Ahora vamos por todo
Now we go for it all
Y te acompaña la suerte
And luck goes with you
Tsamina mina Zangalewa
Where do you come from?
Porque esto es África
Cause this is Africa

Tsamina mina ¡Eh, eh!
Come, come
Waka waka ¡Eh, eh!
–Apparently this means ‘to walk’ or ‘to march’. She is encouraging the players to march into battles for victory. Pretty sweet.
Tsamina mina Zangalewa
Where do you come from?
Porque esto es África

Oye tu dios y
Listen to your God and
No estarás solo
You will not be alone
Llegas aquí
You came here
Para brillar
To shine
Lo tienes todo
You have everything

La hora se acerca
The hour is approaching
Es el momento
This is the moment
Vas a ganar
You are going to win
Cada batalla
Every battle
Ya lo presiento
I already feel it

Hay que empezar
One has to start
De cero
From zero
Para tocar
In order to touch
El cielo
The sky

Ahora vamos por todo
Now we go for it all
Y te acompaña la suerte
And luck goes with you
Tsamina mina Zangalewa
Where do you come from?
Porque esto es África
Cause this is Africa

Tsamina mina ¡Eh, eh!
Come, come!
Waka waka ¡Eh, eh!
Walk, march!
Tsamina mina Zangalewa
Where do you come from?
Anawa a a

Tsamina mina ¡Eh, eh!
Come, come!
Waka waka ¡Eh, eh!
Walk, march!
Tsamina mina Zangalewa
Where do you come from?
Porque esto es África
Cause this is Africa

Tsamina mina
Come, come!
Tsamina mina Zangalewa
Where do you come from?
Porque esto es África
Cause this is Africa

Tsamina mina ¡Eh, eh!
Come, come!
Waka waka ¡Eh, eh!
Walk, march!
Tsamina mina Zangalewa
Where do you come from?
Anawa a a
I am here

Tsamina mina ¡Eh, eh!
Come, come!
Waka waka ¡Eh, eh!
Walk, march!
Tsamina mina Zangalewa
Where do you come from?
Porque esto es Africa
Cause this is Africa

Django eh eh
Django eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Where do you come from?
Anawa a a
It’s me

Django eh eh
Wait!
Django eh eh
Wait!
Tsamina mina zangalewa
Where do you come from?
Anawa a a
It’s me

Porque esto es África
Cause this is Africa
Porque esto es África
Cause this is Africa

We’re all Africa
We’re all Africa

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As usual, apologies and let me know if something is off!

Took most of the African translation from Google and sources. Tried to be as accurate as possible, but some sources might still be wrong and I might have bungled up some literal translations. For that, I am sorry. I do not wish to disrespect any language.

But for Spanish? I take full responsibility, and if you want to too, drop me a Hi on effietrumpet19@gmail.com. I teach Spanish part-time and would love to be part of your language-learning journey. See you next time. 🙂