Aya Nakamura burns identitarian group’s banner at Stade de France
French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura simulated burning a racist protest banner on stage at Stade de France, settling scores with critics who had opposed her Olympic ceremony participation.
The 29 May concert, which drew approximately 80,000 spectators to the Saint-Denis venue, became the stage for Nakamura to settle scores with her critics. According to Valeurs Actuelles, the artist recreated on stage a banner originally deployed in March 2024 by the identitarian group Les Natifs, then proceeded to mime burning it before the assembled crowd.
The original banner had read: “No way Aya, this is Paris, not the Bamako market.” Members of Les Natifs had unfurled the message on 9 March 2024 on the Île Saint-Louis in Paris as a protest against the possible participation of the artist in the Paris Olympic Games ceremonies. The slogan referenced both Nakamura’s song title “Djadja” and Bamako, the city where she was born.
Following the banner incident, multiple anti-racism associations filed complaints with the Paris prosecutor’s office. Aya Nakamura herself lodged a formal complaint on 20 March 2024. Ten activists from Les Natifs were ultimately convicted on 17 September 2025, receiving fines ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 euros.
The Paris criminal court had notably reclassified the charges in that case. While prosecutors had initially pursued charges of incitement to hatred based on origin, ethnicity, nation, race or religion, the judges instead ruled on the lesser charge of aggravated public insult.
Socialist Mayor Applauds the Act
Video of Nakamura’s on-stage performance quickly spread across social media platforms. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire publicly praised the singer’s gesture on X, claiming that Nakamura had demonstrated “with audacity and panache” that she was a “free and creative” artist.
The Socialist official also condemned criticism and alleged cyberbullying directed at the performer, declaring that Nakamura was “an asset for France.” His intervention represents the latest example of French establishment figures rallying behind the controversial singer against her nationalist critics.
The staged burning comes as Nakamura continues a three-night run at the Stade de France, one of the most prestigious venues in the country. The incident is certain to reignite debates over national identity and cultural representation that have surrounded the artist since discussions of her potential Olympic involvement first emerged.
With information from Valeurs Actuelles
