The organising committee of the Paris Olympics has expressed shock over “racist” attacks made by reactionary French groups against Malian-French musician Aya Nakamura.
The attacks followed reports that Nakamura, 28, would perform a song by the legendary 20th century French singer Édith Piaf at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony in July.
The hardliner group Les Natifs protested in Paris with a banner saying: “There’s no way Aya, this is Paris, not the Bamako market”, referring to the capital of Mali, where Nakamura was born.
Nakamura became French citizen at 25, although she arrived France with her family as a child.
Supporters of the far-right group jeered at her at the Reconquest party during a rally held on Sunday.
On Monday, the Paris Olympics organising committee said:
“We have been very 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”
France Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera, French leaders, including French MP Antoine Leaument and many fans have thrown their weight behind Nakamura.
Les Natifs continued its campaign, saying Nakamura does not represent French culture and her performance would signal the “Africanisation” of French culture.
Nakamura remains one of the most iconic musicians in France, and some reports name her as the most listened-to French-singing musician in the world.