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Malian-born singer Aya Nakamura faces racist attacks ahead of Olympic Games opener

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Malian-born singer, Aya Nakamura, is in the eye of the storm following a barrage of racist attacks aimed at her after it was rumoured that she might perform during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games.

The racial attacks which have been condemned by many including the Olympics organizers followed local media reports that the French-Malian singer had discussed the possibility of performing a song by Edith Piaf when she met President Emmanuel Macron last month.

However, a far-right group, “Les Natifs”, said the Malian-born singer did not represent French culture and as such, had no right to perform at the Games’ opening ceremony.

The organising committee of the Paris Olympics, in a statement renouncing the attacks on Nakamura, said they were shocked by the “racist attacks levelled at France’s biggest music star, Aya Nakamura.”

“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,” the Paris Olympics organising committee said in the statement on Monday.

Several fans and French leaders, including French MP Antoine Leaument and Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera, have also lent their support for Nakamura.

French media reports that the attacks were triggered by rumours that Nakamura would perform a song by the legendary 20th century French singer Édith Piaf at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics in July.

“On Sunday, the far-right 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.

“She migrated to France with her family as a child and received French citizenship in 2021. The music star was also booed by supporters of the far-right Reconquest party during a rally held on Sunday.

“Les Natifs has continued to double down, saying Nakamura does not represent French culture and her performance would signal the “Africanization” of French culture.

“Nakamura is one of the biggest musicians in France, and some reports name her as the most listened-to French-singing musician in the world,” a local media wrote.

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Ghana’s Afua Asantewaa begins second GWR sing-a-thon attempt

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Ghanaian singer, Afua Asantewaa, on Saturday, began her second attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest singing marathon by an individual.

The sing-a-thon which began in the early hours of Saturday, December 21, at Heroes’ Park, Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, will run until December 25, and will see the determined songstress perform non-stop, focusing exclusively on Ghanaian songs.

According to Asantewaa’s manager, Madam Gladys Osei Owiredu, the audacious initiative is aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Ghanaian music to a global audience.

Owiredu confirmed that preparations for the event had been extensive but expressed confidence in Asantewaa’s readiness to finally break the record.

“I can confirm that she is ready for the task ahead. It’s been challenging—by way of preparations—but I can say she is ready,” Owiredu said.

Asantewaa’s second attempt follows her first effort in December 2023, which fell short of surpassing the current record of 105 hours held by India’s Sunil Waghmare.

But despite the setback, her team remains optimistic about breaking the record this time with corporate sponsors including International Maritime Hospital, Ghana Gas, Nasco Electronics, and Zoomlion Ghana Limited rallying behind her, underscoring the importance of the attempt in amplifying the global significance of Ghanaian music.

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Ghana’s Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging anti-LGBT bill

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Ghana’s Supreme Court has dismissed two separate suits challenging the legality of one of the proposed anti-LGBT legislations awaiting assent into law by the president.

The separate suits were filed by two legal practitioners, Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, challenging the bill, seeking to declare it illegal and prevent the president from signing it.

The two cases had challenged the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

But in a ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court unanimously decided to dismiss the legal challenges to the new anti-LGBT legislation that has been criticised by rights groups.

The controversial bill was passed earlier this year by Ghanaian lawmakers with three years imprisonment for people identifying as LGBT and five years for forming or funding LGBT groups.

While dismissing the cases, presiding judge, Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, who delivered the ruling on behalf of the seven-member panel, said the cases were premature.

“Until there’s presidential assent, there is no act, the two cases were “unanimously dismissed,” she said.

The ruling is the latest blow to the LGBTQ community in Ghana and paves the way for the president to sign into law what many say is one of Africa’s most restrictive piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose term in office ends on 7 January, had delayed signing it pending the outcome of the Supreme Court challenge but the judges said the case could not be reviewed until it had been signed it into law.

It expected that incoming president, John Mahama, will sign the bill into law as he had always expressed his support for the bill during his electioneering campaigns.

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