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A new York musician claims that South African band Freshlyground are being falsely credited for the World Cup theme song Waka Waka. Dominic James told the Weekend Witness that he recorded the original parts of the song and that Freshlyground had admitted to not playing a note on the track but yet were all credited for their respective instruments. The 2010 World Cup anthem was written and recorded by Colombian superstar Shakira and John Hill, who co-produced the song. The track sampled the chorus of the 1986 song Zangalewa by Cameroonian band Golden Sounds. it also features afro-Colombian instruments with a soca beat and some South African guitars. The band, who are currently on tour in the United States, have responded to the accusations. “The World Cup Song Waka Waka was produced by John Hill and Shakira, and they used various session musicians on the track (which included Dominic James),” said founder member Simon Attwell in a statement. “Freshlyground was never actually present in studio with Shakira or Dominic, and we were in no way privy to or involved in the production process or the negotiations around the use of the song or the agreement with any of the session musicians,” he explained. “The track was pretty developed when we heard it — with some guitars and drums and Shakira’s vocals. Working alone in studio (without Shakira, Dominic or any other musicians), Freshlyground added their own ideas and Zolani’s vocal contribution on the bridge was entirely original. our guitarists’ original playing also features on the track,” he added. “We have never disputed Dominic’s contribution to the track. why would we? His brilliant guitar work forms the basis for the song. But unfortunately we were never involved in any of the negotiations around the commercials of the song.” The song turned out to be one of Shakira’s biggest hits with over 300 million views on Youtube and was the most downloaded song of 2010 on the Nokia Ovi Music Store. Shakira and Freshlyground opened with the song at the 2010 Fifa World Cup Kick-Off concert in Soweto on 10 June and the closing concert on 11 July. The band also appeared on the song’s CD cover and official video.