"Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (formatted on the album as "Bananza (Belly Dancer)") is a song by Senegalese-American singer-songwriter Akon from his debut studio album, Trouble. "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" peaked within the top ten of the charts in the United Kingdom. The song samples "The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)" by Fun Boy Three and "Body Rock" by Treacherous Three, and borrows from the chorus of "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield. It was used in the 2009 teen comedy film Fired Up!. A remix of the track, featuring Kardinal Offishall, was later included as a B-side to "Pot of Gold".
Music video In the televised video, Akon goes into a motorbike store and begins daydreaming. He then encounters a pretty girl and follows her into a belly dancing club. There, as the song said, he finds ex-gangsters, and they all flirt. Towards the end of the video, Akon kisses his chosen girl. The online version of the video begins with Akon trying to fall asleep, and awakening upon the video's end. A further version of the video, featuring the remix featuring Kardinal Offshall, was also created.
Track listings
US 12-inch single A1. "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (clean) – 4:00 A2. "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (dirty) – 4:00 A3. "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (instrumental) – 4:00 B1. "Trouble Nobody" (clean) – 3:22 B2. "Trouble Nobody" (dirty) – 3:23 B3. "Trouble Nobody" (instrumental) – 3:23
UK CD1 "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" "Trouble Nobody" (album version explicit)
UK CD2 "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (explicit) "Trouble Nobody" (album version explicit) "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (instrumental) "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (video)
UK 12-inch single A1. "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (explicit) – 4:00 B1. "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (instrumental) – 4:00 B2. "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (a cappella) – 3:55
European CD single "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (radio edit) – 3:12 "Trouble Nobody" (album version) – 3:23
Australian CD single "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (album version) "Trouble Nobody" (album version) "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (instrumental) "Belly Dancer (Bananza)" (video)
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for "Belly Dancer (Bananza)"Chart (2005–2006)PeakpositionCanada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)23Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)3
Year-end charts +2005 year-end chart performance for "Belly Dancer (Bananza)"Chart (2005)PositionRussia Airplay (TopHit)120UK Urban (Music Week)25US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)73 +2006 year-end chart performance for "Belly Dancer (Bananza)"Chart (2006)PositionRussia Airplay (TopHit)96
Certifications
Release history +Release dates and formats for "Belly Dancer (Bananza)"RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesJune 27, 2005Contemporary hit radioUnited KingdomAugust 8, 2005CDAustraliaOctober 3, 2005
Imanbek and Byor version
In 2022, Kazakh DJ and producer Imanbek and Russian DJ Byor released a remix version of the song, which charted in several European countries.
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for "Belly Dancer" Chart (2022–2023) Peakposition Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 58 Denmark (Tracklisten) 26 France (SNEP) 16 Germany Airplay (BVMI) 6 Global 200 (Billboard) 132 Greece International (IFPI) 41 Ireland (IRMA) 96 Lithuania (AGATA) 64 Norway (VG-lista) 37 Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100) 80 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 92US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 25
Year-end charts + 2022 year-end chart performance for "Belly Dancer" Chart (2022) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 43 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 70 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 27 Denmark (Tracklisten) 77 Germany (Official German Charts) 24 Global Excl. US (Billboard) 165 Hungary (Dance Top 40) 19 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 32 Hungary (Single Top 40) 32 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 66 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 38 Poland (ZPAV) 59 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 37 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 73 + 2023 year-end chart performance for "Belly Dancer" Chart (2023) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 67 Germany (Official German Charts) 64Hungary (Dance Top 40) 5Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 25 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 94 + 2024 year-end chart performance for "Belly Dancer" Chart (2024) Position Belarus Airplay (TopHit) 110Hungary (Dance Top 40) 52 + 2025 year-end chart performance for "Belly Dancer" Chart (2025) Position Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 68
Certifications
References