Faced with the outcry following the announcement appointing her spokesperson for the 36e edition of Nuits d’Afrique, the multipercussionist Mélissa Lavergne has decided to retire.
Posted at 10:08 a.m.
Updated at 10:26 a.m.
“I will step down from the role of spokesperson. But I want to continue collaborating with Nuits d’Afrique,” the musician told The Press. She also says she is “very sensitive” to the discontent expressed on social networks following her appointment.
“The mission of Nuits d’Afrique, and this is why I accepted the mandate, is really one of communion, encounters, crossbreeding, inclusion on both sides. So that’s what made me feel legitimate to accept the mandate, she continues. That said, in the light of all the discontent it arouses, I am very obviously sensitive to this and I verbalized to Nuits d’Afrique that I had decided to withdraw. I think it’s the right thing to do to honor this anger I’m hearing. Afterwards, I have the deep desire to collaborate with Nuits d’Afrique. I think it would be a mistake to take me out of the discussion. On the other hand, it brings me to a reflection, namely how to take part in the conversation without it being offensive. »
The announcement of this appointment was made on Wednesday, notably on the Nuits d’Afrique Instagram site, even before a press conference was held next week. In their comments, several people expressed a mixture of astonishment, skepticism, even anger at the announcement of this role being offered to a white woman.
PHOTO FROM AFRICA NIGHTS INSTAGRAM PAGE
Some of the comments expressed on the Nuits d’Afrique Instagram page.
” Ashamed. », « But nooooooo. “, “It is sure that it is a joke”, “Really deplorable”, “What in the apartheid”, we could read. Others sent tomato emoji to festival leaders.
Mélissa Lavergne, who says she is “in crisis management” since yesterday, believes that this announcement “in fragments” where the light was projected “on a white personality only”, explains the ambient outcry.
In 2021, Corneille was the spokesperson for the event. Myriam Fehmiu had been in 2019 and 2020.