Colombia may have failed to qualify for the World Cup, but pop stars Shakira and Juanes, made the country proud on Thursday, as they performed at the massive World Cup Kickoff Concert in Soweto.
Juanes was the first to take the stage in front of a 30,000 strong crowd at Orlando Stadium. The Medellin native -who only sings in Spanish- warmed the crowds with a rendition of his well known hit “La Camisa Negra”.
Asides from Shakira, Juanes was the only Latin musician at the event, which also included performances by Alicia Keys, John Legend and African stars like Vuhsi Malasela and Angelique Kidjo.
Juanes used the occasion to perform “Yerbatero” for the first time in public, a song that talks about medicine-men who travel round Antioquia´s rural towns.
Shakira was the last artist to perform in the four hour long concert.
Dressed in a zebra print leotard and an ostrich plume skirt and fully exposing her sensual abs, the diva from Barranquilla gave a sizzling performance of “She Wolf” followed by a hear throbbing rendition of “hips don´t lie” in which she managed to twist and turn every centimeter of her abs and hips.
To end the concert, Shakira performed the World Cup song “This Time for Africa” along with the Mzansi, a youth choir from South Africa.
Colombian TV proudly repeated the performances of Shakira and Juanes several times during the concert, splitting the screen and silencing the live concert feed.
During the World Cup, Colombia will be represented by Oscar Julian Ruiz and Humberto Clavijo, two referees who will officiate some of the first round games.