Olympic opening
Aya Nakamura should sing Edith Piaf – attacks from the right
French singer Aya Danioko, aka Aya Nakamura, poses during a photo
© Joel Saget/AFP/dpa
President Macron wants French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura to sing at the opening of the Olympics. The best-selling Francophone singer faces racism – and counters.
In France, the possible performance of French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics has sparked a wave of racism. Initially, the news magazine “L’Express” reported on a secret meeting between the world’s best-selling Francophone singer and President Emmanuel Macron.
The head of state offered Nakamura to perform a piece of the film in front of an audience of millions at the opening ceremony in July Edith Piaf to sing. Although neither Macron nor the singer initially confirmed the possible appearance, serious racist attacks from right-wing extremists followed.
Sports Minister: “Completely unacceptable”
“Aya Nakamura was the victim of racist attacks that are completely unacceptable and must be condemned with the utmost firmness,” France’s Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra told France Info. Culture Minister Rachida Dati had previously warned in the Senate on Tuesday against “pretexts for attacking someone out of pure racism.” “Attacking an artist because she is who she is is unacceptable, it is a misdemeanor.”
In early March, boos erupted at a campaign rally for right-wing extremist Eric Zemmour’s party when Nakamura was mentioned. The party’s leading candidate for the European elections, Marion Maréchal, told broadcaster BFMTV that it was a political decision: “You want to represent multicultural France, you want to represent the France that doesn’t sing in French.” In addition, an ultra-right group posted a photo of a banner that dozens of its members unfurled on the banks of the Seine. It read: “No chance Aya, this is Paris, not the Bamako market,” a reference to Nakamura’s Malian birthplace.
The 28-year-old singer, who grew up in a Paris suburb, went on the offensive. “You can be racist, but you can’t be deaf,” she responded on X, formerly Twitter. “That’s what’s hurting you! I’m becoming the No. 1 state issue in debates, etc., but what do I really owe you? Nothing at all.” She thanked her fans for their support.
Statement by Sports Minister Aya Nakamura on X Statement by Minister of Culture Report TF1 Report Mediapart Marion Maréchal on BFMTV