According to Columbia University, The word waka means old form of a"Japanese poem." It's a form so basic to Japanese literature that Japanese poets write these type of poems even today. It is also known by the name tanka, which means "short poem." In Pop Culture 1. Waka Waka Waka (Japanese: 和歌) or Yamato uta is a genre of Japanese poetry. Waka literally means "Japanese poem" in Japanese. The word waka was originally created by poets during the Heian Period to make clear the difference between native Japanese poetry and the kanshi (Japanese: 漢詩, "Chinese poems"). Waka Waka is a 2010 song by Shakira and the South African band Freshlyground, the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The lyrics celebrate Africa as a continent and its people, urging them to come together for a common purpose. The phrase "Waka Waka" is a reference to a traditional dance and means "listen to me, the one who sings". k66S.