The Paris Olympics organizing committee condemned “racist attacks” targeting Malian-French singer Aya Nakamura by far-right groups in France.
Nakamura, 28, reportedly drew criticism after speculation emerged about her performing a song by French icon Édith Piaf at the upcoming Games’ opening ceremony.
On Sunday, far-right group Les Natifs staged a protest in Paris. Their banner displayed the message “There’s no way Aya, this is Paris, not the Bamako market,” referencing the Malian capital, Nakamura’s birthplace. Nakamura, who migrated to France as a child and became a French citizen in 2021, also faced boos from supporters of the far-right Reconquest party during a Sunday rally.
“We are deeply troubled by the recent racist attacks against Aya Nakamura,” the Paris Olympics organizing committee said in a statement issued Monday. “We offer our full support to the most-streamed French artist globally.”
Nakamura has garnered backing from fans and French leaders, including lawmaker Antoine Leaument and Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. Les Natifs, however, remain entrenched in their stance, claiming Nakamura doesn’t embody French culture and her performance would signify the “Africanization” of French culture.
Nakamura is a top musician in France, with some reports labeling her the world’s most-streamed French-singing artist.
