(Paris) Aya Nakamura finds herself at the heart of a political and epidermal debate: the Franco-Malian star, who could sing Édith Piaf at the opening of the Paris Olympic Games, is stigmatized by the extreme right and defended by artists and the Minister of Sports.
Everything starts from the French weekly The Express, who assures that the person concerned would have discussed with Emmanuel Macron her possible participation in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games (July 26-August 11). With the possibility of resuming Édith Piaf. Neither the President of the Republic nor the most listened to French-speaking singer in the world have yet confirmed this rumor.
But this idea makes reactionaries in France bristle, with a peak reached this weekend. Boos arose at the mention of the artist on Sunday, during a first major campaign rally for the European elections of Reconquête!, Eric Zemmour’s far-right party, at the Dôme de Paris.
In addition, a small ultra-right group, Les Natifs, posted on its networks a photo of a banner hung by around ten of its members on the banks of the Seine. “There’s no way Aya, this is Paris, not the Bamako market!” “, we can read there. The expression “There’s no way” is taken from his success Djadjawhich has more than 950 million views on YouTube.
Aya Nakamura reacted to this banner on her social networks, spelling mistakes included: “You can be racist, but not deaf… That’s what hurts you! I’m becoming a number 1 state subject in debates etc., but what do I really owe you? Kedal.”
“We will support”
With this reaction, the singer exports this debate internationally: followed by nearly 1.3 million people on being admirers of the interpreter of Girlfriends.
Dadju, one of the heavyweights of R&B in France, rallied behind the singer on his networks: “It wasn’t even a fight, but mtn (now) she has to sing, we will support. It’s not Bamako, it’s not Bamako. Bunch of dogs.”
Will attacks from the far right be counterproductive? “It’s a controversy arising from a rancid France, but it’s not them who will decide. I hope she will sing at the Olympics, it is becoming imperative,” Carole Boinet, editorial director of the InrockuptiblesFrench cultural magazine.
Anti-Aya Nakamura people mock the liberties she takes with Françoise Hardy’s language, as in Djadjamixing vocabulary and images from the four corners of the world (“I’m not your whore, Djadja, like, in catchana baby, you die”).
This forgets that popular music has always been nourished by easy, even simplistic, lyrics. We can cite the successes Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da the Beatles or From do do do, From da da da from The Police.
“Language that is wonderful”
“I can understand that some people say to themselves: “Who does she think she is, taunting us with our French language”, but it’s important to accept the culture of others and I have a dual culture “, the star recently told AFP.
“Aya Nakamura invented this language which is fantastic. She has crazy hits, France should be proud to have an internationally known artist like her,” continues Carole Boinet, adding: “When will there be a bust of her as Marianne? »
“It’s amazing, it’s unforgivable that racists can attack an artist for her origins and her skin color, while the Olympics transcend borders,” Angelo Gopee, boss of Live Nation France, national branch of one of the largest show producers in the world.
“It’s not a tweet from a minister that’s needed, all politicians should be up to speed,” he concludes, in reference to the message on X from the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. “No matter how much we love you, dear @AyaNakamura, fuck off with the whole world. With you,” posted the government member.
LFI deputy Antoine Léaument also defended the star: “We cannot be racist and patriotic in France”.