AYA NAKAMURA

Les Jeux Olympiques sont en cours (Olympics are ongoing) and the far right French are BIG MAD. Singer Aya Nakamura was selected to sing at the opening ceremony. While bred in France, she has 2 sins: (1) her skin is dark and (2) her blood is Malian. Critics are complaining she is not a representation of French Art in the same way Edith Piaff was in the 1940s for example. What they are disregarding is that today, 1 in 10 frenchmen/women are immigrants or children of immigrants. So she is in fact, an excellent representation of France’s musical scene today.

Additionally, the entire logic is flawed. You cannot now seek isolationism after having mingled in our affairs for literal centuries ——— Case in point: Moi. No reason at all that I, Ishimwe rya Mugenga, learned french before I could walk. Or that my name is Olivia and my sister’s name is Sandrine. In the words of Senegalese author Fatou Diome, “It was you who chose to tie you history to ours. Now we are here, we pay your taxes, enrich your nations and we are not leaving. If you don’t like it, YOU move.” Ayas are products of a troubled foreign policy that has ruthlessly stripped Africa of a pure identity and now Messieurs Dames, vous êtes fâchés? Mais fâchés vous…

Highlighting also that Celine dion is a Canadian who does not live in France and there was no commentary on her being non-French when she sang. So really, what they mean to say is “non aux noirs”; Celine is a an icon, on en disconviens pas, but so is Aya (in the making)…

Gros bisou pulpeux à tout les racistes! On ne connais que l’amour, nous.

XOXO