The Ghetto Kids
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The dream performance by Uganda’s world renowned Ghetto Kids at the FIFA World Cup final in the United States might never come to pass due to Ebola-related travel restrictions linked to East Africa.
The famous Ugandan dance troupe had been invited by Colombian singer Shakira to perform alongside her during the World Cup final halftime show scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Shakira announced the invitation last week through a social media video, saying she wanted this year’s performance to be “unforgettable.”
“I’ve already invited the Ghetto Kids from Uganda,” the global music star said.
The announcement sparked excitement among the children, who described the opportunity as one of the biggest moments of their careers.
“We are so excited,” members of the group said during a video interview after the invitation was made public.
Eleven-year-old dancer Tiyoma Keysha also told NBC TV that the group could not wait to “show the world what we’ve got.”
However, uncertainty now hangs over the trip after Uganda confirmed Ebola cases linked to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Ministry of Health yesterday announced the immediate closure of Uganda’s border with Congo after seven Ebola cases and one death were confirmed in the country.
The outbreak has now raised fears that strict international health measures could prevent the dancers from travelling to the United States in time for the World Cup final.
Under current US health regulations, non-citizens who have visited Uganda, Congo or South Sudan within the previous 21 days are barred from entering the United States.
The restrictions were introduced to prevent the spread of Ebola during outbreaks in affected regions.
Analysts say these measures could complicate travel plans for the Ghetto Kids ahead of the tournament, which kicks off on June 11 across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The group may face challenges in obtaining travel clearances, visas and airline approvals if the Ebola outbreak persists or worsens in the coming weeks.
There are also fears that the United States could tighten restrictions further if more Ebola cases are reported in Uganda or neighbouring countries.
The possible disruption would be a major blow for the dance troupe, which had hoped to perform before a global television audience expected to run into hundreds of millions of viewers.
Uganda failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, meaning the Ghetto Kids would effectively become the country’s only representatives at the tournament if the trip proceeds.
Despite the uncertainty, the group’s management remains optimistic that the performance will still happen.
Group manager Dauda Kavuma said they were hopeful the health crisis would not destroy the opportunity.
“We believe all will be fine. With God’s grace, nothing is impossible,” Kavuma said.
The Ghetto Kids have built a huge international following through energetic dance videos shared online, attracting attention from celebrities and music stars around the world.
The troupe previously appeared in the video for “Dai Dai,” Shakira’s official anthem for the tournament.
Long before receiving the invitation to perform alongside her, the children had also become famous for dancing to Shakira’s 2010 World Cup anthem “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).”
For now, however, their historic World Cup appearance remains uncertain as Uganda battles the Ebola outbreak and international travel restrictions continue to threaten their journey to the United States.
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