Shakira, Black Eyed Peas & Keys perform at World Cup Concert

The world came to Soweto on Thursday for a celebration of soccer, music and unity on the eve of Africa’s first World Cup, with a concert featuring international headliners Shakira, the Black Eyed Peas and Alicia Keys. Warm-up acts played for hours before the internationally televised portion of the concert at Orlando Stadium began at 8 p.m. with a frenzy of flag waving, drumming and African-inspired dancing.

The Black Eyed Peas were next with a slick medley of their hits, then it was back to Africa, with the blind duo Amadou & Mariam of Mali and their sinuous, driving sound.

Shakira, wearing an animal print, waka waka-ed — the anthem and dance of the World Cup. The turbaned Tinariwen brought the sounds of Mali’s desert nomads to the mix. The crowd swayed to Keys, and did the toyi-toyi — the protest dance of the apartheid era — to hometown favorites BLK JKS. Colombian rocker Juanes, in a multicolored warm-up jacket, debuted his newest single, “Yerbatero” to cheers from the crowd.

An exuberant Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in full South African green-and-yellow fan regalia, was treated like a rock star as he led the crowd in cheers for Nelson Mandela, who is credited with sealing South Africa’s bid to host the World Cup.

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Tags: shakira waka-waka, World Cup 2010, World Cup Album, World Cup Anthem