K’naan, a former refugee from one of the poorest country Somalia, is a strong voice in the music world today. Not many know, but his road to global stardom has had many ups and downs – one of the most heartening being living through the civil war. On many occasions he has seen his friends being shot dead before his eyes and also spent months in jail. Today music lovers are humming the irresistible chorus to his official World Cup song, ‘Wavin’ Flag’.
The activist musician caught attention after he secured a speaking engagement before the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 1999. At this meeting, K’naan performed a spoken word piece criticizing the UN for its failed aid missions to Somalia. One of the audience members, Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour, was so impressed by the young MC’s performance and courage that he invited him to contribute to one of his albums.
Back in news for his football anthem Wavin’ Flag, K’naan has collaborated with a no. of artistes on this track. A remixed bilingual English/Spanish version ‘Wavin’ Flag’ was made under the title ‘Wavin’ Flag (Coca Cola Spanish Celebration Mix)’ with Spanish pop artist David Bisbal after the song was chosen as the Coca-Cola anthem for the 2010 FIFA for which K’naan sings the English lyrics and Bisbal the Spanish lyrics. He also featured Banky W. and M.I in the Nigerian version of the song “Wavin’ Flag”, Nancy Ajram for the Arabic version of the song, f?©f?© for the French version, Skank for the Brazilian version and will.i.am and David Guetta for the English version of the song.
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Excerpts:
What is the inspiration behind Wavin’ Flag?
Staying alive was a struggle in Somalia, so I fled the country with my mother and siblings at the age of 14. Wavin’ Flag is partly drawn from my experiences growing up, and partly an appeal for peace and freedom.
How did music come about as a career?
I learned English from listening to hip-hop recordings and eventually began rapping. I dropped out of high school and began traveling and occasionally performing. My career slowly built from there.
Tell us more about the track Wavin’ Flag for the Coca Cola FIFA anthem?
The track is a remix of Wavin Flag’, which originally appeared on my 2009 album ‘Troubadour’. I reworked the song for the Coca-Cola campaign which invites football fans to express their optimism and passion for football through dance celebrations in the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
The single has been released in more than 150 markets around the world and is used as the anthem for all elements of the global Coca-Cola campaign in support of its FIFA World Cup sponsorship in more than 160 countries. I have collaborated with some of the world’s hottest recording artists to create a dozen local-language versions of the song. Artists include Thai chart-toppers Tattoo Colour, multi-platinum Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram and China’s most popular female artist Jane Zhang.
How does it feel that your song is more popular than the official anthem?
It’s great to have a hit song in all four corners of the world.”Wavin’ Flag is a beautiful, uplifting song and I hope it captures the feeling of unity and celebration the FIFA World Cup brings to people all across the planet. It is a time for all of us to wave our flags.
How was it performing at the Trophy tour for World Cup?
We performed in almost every country for fans, presidents, VIP’s and everyone in between It’s hard to describe the response to Wavin Flag and the The Cup.
Preformed at Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Yemen, Tanzania, Seychelles, Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa.
Is your music inspired by your life?
I suffer something like survivor guilt…, thinking of the people I grew up with. Several of my boyhood friends were shot dead in front of me. I handled a machinegun and exploded a hand-grenade accidentally but never killed anyone.
Also Story telling has been a part of the culture I have been brought up in. I love songs that take you back into a place you are not in. I was born in Somalia, spent first 14 years . At the age of 11 the civil war broke out. It was a very difficult and emotional time, time for survival.
Hence, travel has been constant in my songs. Also, my name K’naan, means “traveler” in the Somali language.
Which artist do you listen to?
I listen to Dylan, he takes you to a place where you know you haven’t been. He writes real stories but in a way they seem fantastical.
