When French President Emmanuel Macron was asked who would headline the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, perhaps it was only natural that he mentioned Aya Nakamura, the most listened to French singer on the planet. That's probably true.
As it turns out, Ms. Nakamura has a lot in common with the woman she would be singing for, Edith Piaf. Both were children of immigrants and grew up in poverty, but they still sang in French and became internationally acclaimed stars. But some have complained about Nakamura's habit of salting her songs with slang from her native Mali or words of her own making.
Why I wrote this
a story focused on
Who will represent France? The issue has become politically charged, with far-right leaders complaining about the idea that an internationally popular black artist might sing an Edith Piaf song at the Olympics. It's causing a commotion.
Nakamura's choice of language has spurred criticism from the far right. Immediately after supporting Macron, Marine Le Pen told French radio that Macron not only dressed and acted indecently, but also did not sing in French. Le Pen is “nonsense,” she said.
But for some fans, Nakamura's empathy lies precisely in the way she uses words.
“All this talk about grammar and French is an excuse for a more political issue: the idea that a black woman from the suburbs might be able to represent France,” says Roxanne Seberg.
One of the most important roles at the opening ceremony of this summer's Paris Olympics is likely to be the performance of Edith Piaf's songs. So when President Emmanuel Macron was asked who would be selected for such a task, it is perhaps natural that he would recommend Aya Nakamura, the most listened to French singer on the planet. Dew.
However, the idea that Ms. Nakamura, a pop and rap artist known for salting her lyrics with slang influenced by her native Mali and for salting her lyrics with her own creations, would perform pieces by her beloved Ms. Piaf made sense to everyone. It was not something I could enjoy. Far-right leaders called Macron's support a “provocation” and complained that she did not sing in French and did not represent France.
But while Nakamura may not embody the beret-wearing, baguette-toting France of yesteryear, many say she is the face of the country today.
Why I wrote this
A story focused on
Who will represent France? The issue has become politically charged, with far-right leaders complaining about the idea that an internationally popular black artist might sing an Edith Piaf song at the Olympics. It's causing a commotion.
France is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Europe, and Ms. Nakamura represents many aspects of the “new” France. A black single mother who grew up in public housing in Aulnay-sous-Bois on the outskirts of Paris and is now admired by fans around the world, she reflects a different kind of French experience. It is something that is becoming more familiar and common. among the French people.
“Aya Nakamura's music symbolizes what it means to be feminine, young, black and working class,” says Gabriel Segre, a professor of social anthropology at Paris Nanterre University who studies music and fan culture. “Her ability to 'climb up from the bottom' subverts traditional norms of success and legitimacy in society. France's elites resent this.”
A different kind of French star
Born Aya Danioko in Bamako, Mali, Nakamura moved to France with her extended family as a child and lived in La Rose des des Beaux-Arts, a large public housing project built in Aulnay-sous-Bois in the 1960s. Settled in Van. In 2014, at the age of 19, she dropped out of her high school to begin her singing career and she adopted the stage name 'Nakamura' from a character on the US television show 'Heroes'.
In 2018, she released “Djadja”. The song features African-influenced slang that she has now invented, including the title, which she says means “liar.” The song was an instant hit and gave her national success.
Since then, Nakamura-san has earned five No. 1 songs in France and a double platinum album, “Aya.” In July 2021, the album “Nakamura” exceeded 1 billion streams on Spotify. She is currently the most listened to French-speaking artist in the world.
Her style has vibrant and diverse roots.
“Mr. Nakamura draws inspiration from a variety of sources, from zouk to R&B,” says Marie Sonnet-Manugyan, a hip-hop expert at the University of Angers. “She uses rich, everyday language and plays with onomatopoeia and rhymes to create an original dictionary that her fans can easily understand. That's one of the factors behind her success.”
But her choice of language has spurred criticism from the far right. Marine Le Pen of the National Rally party told French radio that not only did the artists dress and behave indecently, but they also did not sing in French. “She doesn't sing in a foreign language, she's not mixed languages,” Le Pen said. “That's nonsense.”
But it is precisely her use of words that allows her to resonate with her fans, especially young people, for whom she is especially popular.
“Aya uses slang and expressions… and I sing along with her,” says Roxanne Seberg, a French-Algerian living in Aulnay-sous-Bois. “All this talk about grammar and French is an excuse for a more political issue: the idea that a black woman from the suburbs could represent France.”
Benoît Tessier/Reuters/File
“Edith Piaf at the time”
However, Mr. Nakamura represents France, although he is of a different type than France, which is generally in the spotlight.
French authorities have banned the collection of data on the race and ethnicity of its citizens, but studies suggest that around 4% of the population is black. Nakamura, who has spent most of his life in France, is also part of an immigrant community that, according to official statistics, will number around 7 million people, or about 10% of the population, as of 2022.
Her position as a single mother also represents a large part of the population. 25% of her family are single parents, and the majority of those parents are women. And the economic situation in La Rose des Vins, where she grew up, is considered by the local government to be a “priority area” suffering from inequality, economic and social hardship; Today it is also shared by 5 million French people.
While some of her critics may be upset that someone with such a background would take on the task of honoring Edith Piaf at the Olympics, Piaf herself comes from a similar background, As the child of immigrants, he spent most of his youth in poverty. Dr. Sonnet-Manugyan says that in a sense it is natural for Nakamura to sing Piaf's songs.
“Aya Nakamura's audience is diverse,” she says. “There's a big audience.'' Nakamura said, “Not only is she the first woman to appear on the 2023 'Top Artists' list, but she's also the most listened to French woman overseas, so she's chosen to sing at the Olympic opening ceremony.'' would be a “rational choice,'' she argues. She was the Edith Piaf of her time. ”
Nakamura is not widely loved in France's minority communities. “Aya doesn't represent France or me. She represents vulgarity,” says Vanessa Oh, who grew up in a first-generation West African family in the Paris suburb of Gif-sur-Yvette. “What kind of example is she setting for our young people? Even though she can't finish school, even though she can't speak properly, does that still mean she can't get ahead?”
But for many of Nakamura's fans, it's her ability to overcome hardship that makes her a role model. A recent survey by a group of black organizations found that nine out of 10 black people in France experience racism “often”.
“What I appreciate about Aya Nakamura is her determination and ability to succeed despite the obstacles she has had to face in life,” says Sergio Chiccano, diversity and inclusion consultant. . “I think she is a great representative of France for an international audience because she embodies the diversity and dynamism of our country.”
With three months to go until the Olympics, no decisions have been made yet about who will hold the opening and closing ceremonies. Several artists are in the running, and Mr Macron said he would leave the final decision to the artistic director of the ceremony.
But for those who love Nakamura, the choice is clear.
“When Aya's music comes on, everyone gets up and dances,” Seberg says. “What we need at the Olympics is people who can cheer people up and bring them together while having fun.”
