Opening ceremonies to Olympic Games are an opportunity for nations to tell a positive story to the world and to themselves. In 2012, Danny Boyle’s virtuoso portrait of a vibrant, multicultural Britain did just that. Sadly, a far less uplifting narrative has been taking shape across the channel, ahead of this summer’s Olympics in Paris.
Controversy ensued after rumors spread that Aya Nakamura, a black French-Malian singer, may be selected to perform at the Paris Games. Far-right politicians reacted by making derogatory comments and displaying a racist banner by the Seine, while Marine Le Pen also joined in by criticizing Nakamura’s qualifications and lyrics. She further insulted the singer’s fashion choices, perceived vulgarity, and the fact that she doesn’t sing in French or any known language.
At the age of 28, Ms Nakamura has become a global sensation with over 7 billion streams for her music. Despite her success, she has faced discrimination due to her parents moving to France when she was a baby. She has been chosen as the face of a famous perfume brand and sold out three concerts in Paris within 15 minutes. While she should be celebrated as a triumph of multiculturalism, French President Emmanuel Macron has faced backlash for suggesting she perform Edith Piaf’s song at the Olympic’s opening. Sadly, Ms Nakamura has become a target of prejudice from politicians who wrongly believe that only certain individuals can represent the country based on racist ideals of “Frenchness.”
The far right has a history of negatively influencing important cultural occasions. Prior to the 2021 Euro 2020 football tournament, there was controversy over the selection of a rapper with Congolese heritage to write the French team’s anthem. In 2016, a performer with a Senegalese grandfather who served in the French army was barred from participating in an event commemorating the battle of Verdun. Infamously, in the 2000s, Jean-Marie Le Pen, father of Ms. Le Pen, criticized the presence of black footballers on one of France’s most accomplished national teams.
This situation was disgraceful and embarrassing. However, it is concerning that the bias against Ms. Nakamura seems to be deeply ingrained in mainstream society. A survey conducted after Mr. Macron allegedly invited her showed that 73% of respondents did not see her as a representative of “French” music and 63% opposed her performing at the opening ceremony. France has a significant and longstanding minority ethnic population in Europe. Unfortunately, due to ongoing conflicts over cultural differences, the public space in France can be unwelcoming for people of color.
The upcoming Olympic Games in Paris will take place after various European elections that are shaping up to be a pivotal moment for French politics and society. Unfortunately, surveys predict that Ms. Le Pen’s extreme right-wing party, Rassemblement National, will come out on top in the June elections, and she also has a strong likelihood of winning the presidential election in 2027. The criticism and mistreatment faced by Ms. Nakamura serve as a disturbing preview of the potential consequences of this dystopian future in France.
-
Do you have thoughts about the topics discussed in this article? If you wish to send an email response of 300 words or less for potential publication in our letters section, please click here.
Source: theguardian.com
