2. Creolization and The World Cup
What is Creolization in music?
Sociologist Robin Cohen writes that creolization
occurs when “Participants select particular
elements from incoming or inherited cultures,
endow these with meanings different from those
they possessed in the original cultures, and then
creatively merge these to create new varieties that
supersede the prior forms.”
Anthems of the world Cup
Beginning in 1962 the world cup has featured
anthems and albums released in promotion of
each cup. Chosen songs are usually multilingual
and include English, the official language of the
organizing country, Spanish and other languages.
The official versions also result in cover versions in
many other languages performed by the original or
by local artists.
3. The world cup albums and anthems exemplify
creolization at its finest. The goal is to unite teams
from around the world in the celebration of this
global event and in doing so the music of the world
cup combines the sounds of hosting countries with
the sounds of home. This music brings people of
all backgrounds together and demonstrates the
human universals of celebration and community
Creolization and The World Cup
4. ● The songs of the world cup have
always been vastly diverse
● Each anthem is released in several
languages
● In addition to being released in
different languages, many of the
featured anthems are multilingual
pieces
● Anthems feature a mix of local artists
of the host countries and global
celebrities
World Cup Anthems from
1982-2018
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BiMxwUzIq0
5. Wavin’ Flag by K’NAAN
In reviewing many of the albums showcased in the world
cup, my favorite song quickly became Wavin’ Flag by
Somali-Canadian artist K’NAAN. The he song was
originally written for Somalia and aspirations of its people
for freedom. Playing off of the human universals of
community, the song was remixed to be apart of the
2010 world cup album as a promotional anthem. (The
remix is the version I have here) I loved the emphasis
that this piece put on coming together and rejoicing as
many nations participating in one event. Of all of the
selections I reviewed in an effort to immerse in the
culture of the world cup, I found this song to be the finest
demonstration of creolization and human universals.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTJSt4wP2ME
6. Immersion in Creolization of Music
Discover Study Share
After the discoveries I made in the first round of looking into Creolization in music and the
further analysis that I did on the music of the world cup, I decided that in a pandemic world
(where its difficult to find a way to get out into the world) The best way I could end this
project would be to share what I’ve learned and celebrate with others!
I reached out to friends of mine all over the country and the world. We talked about Creole
music, the world cup, becoming a global community and then… then we talked about
Shakira.
7. World Cup Alumni
Shakira has been a featured at three
world cups: and Germany 2006
South Africa 2010, and Brazil 2014
Her most popular song featured at the
world cup was the 2010 World Cup
anthem Waka-Waka perforemd with
South African artist Freshly Ground
8. Waka-waka (This Time for Africa)
Socially Distant but
connected by song
For my final project in
this class I danced to
my new favorite creole
song with a dozen or so
of my friends. We are
separated by several
states, a few continents
and now a virus– but
just as in the world cup,
a song could bring us
together.
9.
10. CREDITS: This presentation template was created
by Slidesgo, including icons by Flaticon, and
infographics & images by Freepik.
Please keep this slide for attribution.
Thank you
Abigale E Baum
Washtenaw Community College
Music 180
Immersion project
11. RESOURCES
● Cohen, Robin (2007). "Creolization and Cultural
Globalization: The Soft Sounds of Fugitive
Power". Globalizations. 4 (3): 369–
384. doi:10.1080/14747730701532492. S2CID 54814946.
● "FIFA World Cup Theme Song". WorldcupThemeSong.
Retrieved 27 July 2020.
● “World Cup 2018: The Extraordinary Power of the Football
Song.” BBC Culture, BBC,
www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180614-world-cup-2018-the-
extraordinary-power-of-the-football-song.
