Reflections on the Canadian contribution to the 2010 FIFA World Cup

Today, people from around the world will be watching in anticipation as the 2010 FIFA World Cup begins in South Africa. Over the following month, an estimated one billion viewers will watch teams from 32 countries come together in sport, culminating into a final game which receives more viewers and international attention than the Olympics.

Although Canada does not yet have a soccer team strong enough to compete in the top 32, Canada is making a beautiful and enduring offering to this year’s World Cup.

This year’s promotional anthem for the games, Waving Flag, is by Toronto-based artist K’naan. The song, already a hit around the world, was also used to help direct relief funds to Haiti in the wake of their devastating earthquake this past January. It has a truly giant sound in which you can picture a stadium pulsing with the rhythm of overflow crowds raising their cheers, donning their colours, and waving their flags. It is safe to assume that the song will be a lasting icon of these games. And the song is Canadian.

K’naan was born Keynaan Cabdi Warsame in Somalia in 1978. Son to poets and activists, his family left their home amidst the instability of 1991 in Somalia. Keynaan was then twelve. His family lived in New York briefly before fully immigrating to Canada. In Canada, he grew, developed his talents, met record producers, participated in advocacy groups, and was able to launch his professional career as a musician and spoken-word artist. Since immigrating, he has developed the momentum to release three studio albums, give support to various groups including the United Nations, and win numerous awards for his performances.

Cohen Immigration Law helps give people new hope by assisting them in their applications for immigration to Canada where they can realize their potential—to live, to grow, to raise children and to help care for one another.

Keynaan’s story demonstrates how one new citizen coming to Canada can bring benefits to the world. Cohen Immigration Law is excited about the legacy of positive changes Canada may witness in the years to come as a result of its work.