By Josephine Kayaga
Uganda’s internationally celebrated dance group, the Triplets Ghetto Kids, continue to bask in global recognition following their appearance in Dai Dai, the official FIFA World Cup song by global music stars Shakira and Burna Boy.
While many fans were surprised to see the Ugandan dancers featured alongside some of the world’s biggest entertainers, the opportunity was the result of months of planning and engagement behind the scenes.
According to the group’s manager, Dauda Kavuma, the journey began when the dancers participated in a viral challenge for a Shakira soundtrack connected to the animated film Zootopia.
The energetic performance quickly attracted attention from Shakira’s team, who publicly interacted with and appreciated the group’s creativity online.”We had initially done a challenge for the Zootopia song. Her team commented, shared and appreciated it,” Kavuma revealed.
What appeared to many as a sudden breakthrough was actually the beginning of a longer relationship between the Ugandan dancers and the Colombian superstar’s camp.Kavuma explained that after noticing the challenge, Shakira’s team directly contacted the group and invited them to participate in a professional video project.
The invitation eventually saw 12 members of the delegation flown to Miami, United States, with all travel and accommodation expenses fully covered.”Her team approached us and requested that we do a video. We went to Miami, all expenses paid for 12 people.
By the time the challenge came out, we had already done the video, so everything was already in the pipeline,” he said.The revelation demonstrates the growing influence of digital content and social media platforms in connecting talented creators with international opportunities.For the Ghetto Kids, the collaboration represents another remarkable achievement in a journey that has taken them from the streets of Kampala to some of the world’s biggest entertainment stages.
Over the years, the dance group has built a reputation for energetic performances, viral dance content and appearances alongside internationally recognised artists and brands.Their involvement in Dai Dai further strengthens Uganda’s presence on the global entertainment scene and highlights the potential of homegrown talent to compete on the international stage.
Beyond the excitement of featuring in a FIFA World Cup project, the story serves as a reminder that opportunities can emerge from unexpected places. What started as a simple social media dance challenge eventually opened the door to one of the biggest collaborations in the group’s career.
As the Ghetto Kids continue to expand their international profile, their latest achievement stands as an inspiration to young creatives across Uganda and Africa, proving that talent, consistency and visibility can create opportunities far beyond local borders.