The Paris Olympics organizing committee has expressed dismay over the “racist” attacks launched by reactionary French groups against Malian-French musician Aya Nakamura.
These attacks ensued following reports that Nakamura, 28, would be performing a song by the iconic 20th-century French singer Édith Piaf at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics in July.
The hardline group Les Natifs protested in Paris, displaying a banner stating: “There’s no way Aya, this is Paris, not the Bamako market”, alluding to the capital of Mali, Nakamura’s birthplace.
Despite Nakamura becoming a French citizen at 25 and arriving in France with her family as a child, supporters of the far-right group jeered at her during a rally held by the Reconquest party on Sunday.
In response, the Paris Olympics organizing committee declared on Monday: “We have been deeply shocked by the racist attacks against Aya Nakamura in recent days. We offer our total support to the most listened-to French artist in the world.”
French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, along with French leaders such as French MP Antoine Leaument, and numerous fans, have rallied behind Nakamura.
However, Les Natifs continued their campaign, asserting that Nakamura does not represent French culture and her performance would signify the “Africanisation” of French culture.
Despite the backlash, Nakamura remains one of the most iconic musicians in France, with some reports naming her as the most listened-to French-singing musician in the world.
