By Uganda’s beloved Ghetto Kids are preparing for another breathtaking leap onto the global stage. The young dancers have been invited by Shakira to perform during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime show in New Jersey.
The Ghetto Kids, made up of boys and girls mostly in their childhood and early teenage years, have built a signature dance style that bursts with youthful energy and sharp choreography rooted in expressive storytelling of African street dance culture.
What began years ago as children dancing joyfully to Eddy Kenzo’s Sitya Loss in Kampala has evolved into a movement that has captured international attention. But behind the energetic dance routines is a humble background. Many of the children were taken in from difficult backgrounds and raised under the care of founder and guardian Dauda Kavuma, who turned dance into a tool of hope, family and opportunity for vulnerable children. Over the years, the initiative has become more than a dance group, it has become a home and a springboard to dreams come true.
Their infectious smiles and high-energy performances have helped them win audiences far beyond Uganda, turning them into social media sensations. Through TikTok and YouTube, millions of viewers have followed their dance videos, challenges and performances, turning the young stars from local entertainers into global crowd favourites.
The group’s journey has since taken them far beyond Uganda’s borders. In 2023, the Ghetto Kids dazzled audiences on Britain’s Got Talent, earning a historic Golden Buzzer from judge Bruno Tonioli before they had even completed their performance. Their infectious energy and electrifying routines won over viewers across the United Kingdom, sending them straight into the finals and turning them into fan favourites.
Shakira, who has become almost inseparable from World Cup music culture through songs like Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), revealed in a video that she had already invited the Ghetto Kids while encouraging dancers worldwide to participate in choreography inspired by Dai Dai, the tournament’s official song.
From orphanage walls to television stages in Britain and now football’s grandest spectacle, the Ghetto Kids continue to tell a story that stretches beyond dance, one of talent and a determination of refusing to stay small.
For Uganda, this invitation carries a deeper impact than dance alone. It is the joy of possibility, of children from Katwe moving from local dreams to international spotlights, and carrying the country’s zeal with them.
