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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.

Culture

African men run away from single mothers— Joselyn Dumas

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Veteran Ghanaian actress and media personality, Joselyn Dumas, has lamented the fact that most African men shy away from getting married to single mothers due to the added responsibilities they will be saddled with.

The actress who made the assertion in her recent podcast, “Keeping it Real with Joselyn Dumas, The Perfect Picture”, opened up on the challenges of many single mothers who are struggling to find a partner because of societal biases.

In the podcast, Dumas who shared a personal story of a male friend whom she said refused to settle down with a lady because she had a child.

According to her, the friend named Anthony, firmly stated that it wasn’t his thing to be with a ‘born one’ or ‘born two’.

“He said B1, B2, I’m not in and I said to myself, ‘this is the reason why a lot of single mothers are single with their children.

“Now his reason was, why am I going to raise somebody’s child? That’s not my bloodline. He doesn’t have my DNA in him. Why am I now going to help someone’s bloodline grow? What about mine?” she said.

Dumas who is a single mother, noted that Anthony’s mindset is a “reflection of the views of a larger majority of people who don’t want to have meaningful relationship with single mothers.”

She also criticised what she termed as the double standard in society’s views on raising non-biological children, arguing that it should not be seen differently from adoption.

“I have a child but these men won’t even ask you, they don’t even care why you have a child. You’ve had seven miscarriages when you got married. You meet a guy, you were dating and you got pregnant, are you going to abort the baby because you aren’t married?

“He doesn’t want the child, are you going to throw the child away? No! You can raise the child. It takes a village to raise the child, so even if you don’t have a job, you will get support. This is part of the sacrifice you have to make regardless of what has happened,” she said.

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Namibia govt condemns tourists posing naked on Big Daddy Dune

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The Namibian authorities have frowned at tourists who posed naked at the Big Daddy Dune, the country’s top tourist attraction located in the Namibian desert.

Reports in the country’s media say locals were shocked to sight the tourists posing naked on the Dune during a safari and have demanded for action against them from authorities.

According to local media, actions that could be taken against the tourists include being blacklisted from entering any of Namibia’s parks.

A spokesperson from the country’s Tourism Ministry told local media that photos and a video from of the naked tourists have been widely shared, sparking sharp reactions.

Vice Chairperson of the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations, Kenneth Nependa, who condemned the act, told journalists that the behaviour risked attracting tourists “who think anything goes in Namibia.”

“It is very sickening and it really creates a bad image for Namibia,” Nependa said, adding that the Big Daddy Dune was not just a relaxing place for tourists but for families too.

Though it is not clear who took the photos and the video of the three male tourists who were seen stark naked in the sandy dune, next to their clothes, authorities say a stern action will be taken against them.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Romeo Muyunda, described the behaviour as “extremely shocking,” saying it was public indecency punishable by Namibian law.

“We appeal to that section of tourists to summon the conscience so that they do the right things,” Muyunda said.

He appealed to Namibians to report violations of park regulations immediately for swift action.

The Big Daddy dune is one of the three largest dunes in Namibia’s enormous Namib-Naukluft National Park, one of the largest in the world and are popular with tourists who hike to the top to have a stunning view across the crests.

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