Nicki Minaj Targeted by Human Rights Activist, Will She Cancel African Performance?

Nicki Minaj is the target of the same human rights activist famous for “dropping copies of The Interview” all over North Korea. She is set to perform at a Christmas festival on Saturday in...
Nicki Minaj Targeted by Human Rights Activist, Will She Cancel African Performance?
Written by Kimberly Ripley
  • Nicki Minaj is the target of the same human rights activist famous for “dropping copies of The Interview” all over North Korea. She is set to perform at a Christmas festival on Saturday in Luanda–the capital of Angola–and has been asked to cancel her appearance.

    Angola has been ruled for decades by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. The nation is often accused of violating the basic rights of journalists, activists, and others who speak out against government oppression and intimidation. They violate these rights in the form of police who often use excessive force to make arbitrary arrests.

    Nicki Minaj was asked in a letter from Thor Halvorssen, head of Human Rights Foundation, to cancel her appearance. Halvorssen stated he plans to post the letter he sent her on his organization’s website.

    In the letter, Halvorssen also states that Angolan hip-hop artist Luaty Beirao was arrested back in June after he attended a meeting to discuss democracy and non-violence. He wrote that there is a trial underway against him–as well as six others who were at the meeting.

    “As a strong-willed independent artist shouldn’t you be advocating for the release of the imprisoned rapper Luaty Beirao rather than entertaining the dictator and his thieving family?” he asked Nicki Minaj.

    The letter goes on to inform Minaj about the president’s billionaire daughter, accusing her of being the main beneficiary of Angola’s blood diamond trade.

    “Ms. Minaj, you are well known for being involved with charities such as the Get Schooled Foundation, which helps motivate young people to graduate from high school and succeed in college,” Halvorssen writes. “If you move forward with this performance for the dictator and his family, you will be in league with the people stealing educational resources and opportunity from young Angolans.”

    So far Nicki Minaj hasn’t cancelled her appearance or indicated whether she will or won’t perform in Angola.

    What’s your take on this letter to Nicki Minaj? Should she cancel her appearance?

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