Celebrity Coverage
Meet Aya Nakamura, the French Superstar Who Took a Stand Against Racism and Performed at the Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony – Essence
![](https://360wisemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Meet-Aya-Nakamura-the-French-Superstar-Who-Took-a-Stand.jpg)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 6: Aya Nakamura attends the 2024 MET Gala Celebrating “Sleeping Beauty: Fashion Awakening” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
The world took notice of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris this afternoon as French pop star Aya Nakamura paraded across a bridge over the Seine. Dressed in a gold metallic feathered mini dress and a daring blonde bust, the singer sang her hit “Pookie” accompanied by a live band conducted by France’s Republican Guard.
Yet this triumphant moment is one which many French people never desired to see.
Aya Nakamura is currently the best-selling French artist in the world. The pop singer, best known for her billion-stream hit, 2019 album Nakamura and chart-topping singles “Dżaja“Girls“And”Pookie,” is the hottest French singer since Edith Piaf, in accordance with . As such, it was only natural that she can be a part of the international celebrations held in the nation’s capital, which were decidedly celebrating French history and culture, including performances by a few of the country’s biggest stars.
However, when a recent Sprint program on French news reported that President Emmanuel Macron himself had invited Nakamura to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the pop star was immediately met with racist backlash and xenophobic verbal attacks from residents, journalists and politicians.
![Meet Aya Nakamura, the French superstar who stood up to racism and performed at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.](https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2046563693-scaled.jpg)
Though born in Mali, the singer was raised on the outskirts of Paris, sings mainly in French (though she also includes Arabic, English and some West African languages) and has enjoyed five years of A-level music fame in the country. However, skeptics argued that her African heritage, and frankly, her black identity, should disqualify her from representing her country on the world stage at a prestigious event reminiscent of this.
“The French do not want to be represented in the eyes of the world by a singer whose style is inspired by the barrio and Africa,” argued French politician and far-right extremist Marion Marechal-Le Pen in an interview with The Telegraph. Performance on Europe 1 Radio in March. Many shared her views, accusing Nakamura of not being a “true Frenchwoman” as a consequence of her African heritage and accusing her of not being “elegant” enough to represent France.
Signs harassing the singer loomed over the Seine during construction work ahead of the Olympic Games, reminding it that “this is Paris, not a market in Bamako.”
![Meet Aya Nakamura, the French superstar who stood up to racism and performed at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.](https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2158892085-scaled.jpg)
Thankfully, with the support of the president, the Olympic committee, in addition to quite a few journalists, fans and the music community, Nakamura remained undeterred, responding to the banners and reminding everyone that irrespective of what anyone needed to say, she was still the best artist in the country.
“You can be racist but not deaf,” she said. published on X March 10. “It hurts you! I’m the number one topic of debate… but what do I really owe you? Nothing.”
Celebrity Coverage
A Fall Hairstyle Rihanna Approves: Medium-Length Curls – Essence
![](https://360wisemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/A-Fall-Hairstyle-Rihanna-Approves-Medium-Length-Curls-Essence.jpg)
Neil Mockford/GC Images
BobsLobs and pixie cuts, like Rihanna’s iconic short black bob, have been among the most beloved hair trends this summer. While these big cuts have been flooding our feeds all season long, this week the Fenty Hair founder introduced mid-length curls just days before fall.
![A Fall Hairstyle Rihanna Approves: Medium-Length Curls](https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GettyImages-2171733753-scaled.jpg)
Rihanna didn’t take the front row at London Fashion Week to have a good time the opening of Fenty Hair’s recent home in Selfridges. Her loose waves were parted to the perimeters, with the left half tucked behind her ear, revealing a chandelier-shaped earring. On the opposite side, the waves sat above her breasts — accentuated by custom Jacquemus robe— and rocked manicure butter.
To achieve this look, Fenty Hair Global Hair Stylist Ursula Stephen she washed her hair with shampoo and conditioner before preparing 5 in 1 heat protection type. She then curled the sections with a medium-diameter iron, pinning each section because the curls cooled. After resting, Stephen combed the curls and backcombed the roots for added volume, securing his curls with edge control.
![A Fall Hairstyle Rihanna Approves: Medium-Length Curls](https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GettyImages-2172465719-scaled.jpg)
The tycoon matched her hair together with her cherry-coloured makeup, which was highlighted Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Stix Lipstick in “Blaz’d Donut” and Snap Shadows Eyeshadow Palette in “True Neutrals”—turning this look into Rihanna’s first fall trend.
Celebrity Coverage
Best New Music of the Week: GloRilla, Monaleo, Shenseea & More – Essence
![](https://360wisemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Best-New-Music-of-the-Week-GloRilla-Monaleo-Shenseea.jpg)
![Best New Music This Week: GloRilla, Monaleo, Shenseea and More](https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/glorilla-hollon-video-1200x900.jpg)
Happy Friday, folks. As summer officially involves an end, let’s enjoy its final days with some great music from some of the most talented artists in entertainment.
Today, GloRilla drops “Hollon,” the first single from her highly anticipated debut album. Monaleo and Kaliii team up on recent track “Flush Em,” iconic MC Lyte returns after a decade along with his 1 Of 1 album, and TDE’s ScHoolboy Q drops the video for “THANK GOD 4 ME” with . Our roundup also includes music from Lecrae, Future, Rich Homie Quan, and more.
Check out today’s list of recent releases below.
Celebrity Coverage
Arike Ogunbowale strives for excellence both on and off the pitch – Essence
![](https://360wisemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Arike-Ogunbowale-strives-for-excellence-both-on-and-off-the.jpg)
Arike Ogunbowale during the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images
In Yoruba, the name means “a child you cherish, nurture, pamper, and love.” So from the moment she was born, WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale was special—and now the world knows it. In just six seasons, she became the fastest player in league history to achieve 4,000 points and broke the Dallas Wings’ all-time scoring record. For an athlete who has achieved a lot, she still has so much to supply.
Ogunbowale was born in Milwaukee to Nigerian parents and was raised surrounded by sports. Her mother was a former softball player at DePaul University, and her brother Dare played football at the University of Wisconsin before joining the NFL as a running back for the Houston Texans. Growing up, Ogunbowale showed off her athletic skills in multiple sports, contributing to 4 state football championships during her highschool years. However, her passion shifted to basketball, where she rose to fame at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, earning accolades similar to Wisconsin Miss Basketball and being chosen as a McDonald’s All-American.
The point guard’s profession took off when she joined the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and eventually led the team to a national championship in 2018. Since being drafted by the Wings the following yr, Ogunbowale has earned quite a few accolades, including 4 All-Star selections and two All-Star MVP honors — the latest coming in an exciting game in Phoenix on Feb. 18. “I just love having fun and playing with a lot of super great players — that’s always what I look forward to in the All-Star Game,” she says.
Amid all her successes, the 27-yr-old understands the responsibility she has to influence the next generation. “I was lucky enough to have two amazing parents who always did the best they could for me and more,” Arike says. “I know how hard it is to get out of Milwaukee. So I always think that when I see little kids, I always try to be the best person I can for them.”
“I know I’m a role model,” she continues. “That just comes with being in your shoes, so I definitely embrace that. I want to be the type of person that people look up to. Young boys, young girls, young black kids — it doesn’t matter. I want to be someone they can see themselves in. So I know I’m a role model, and I try to treat myself that way because I know people are looking up to me.”
The past yr has been a memorable one for the popular basketball star on both a private and skilled level. After establishing herself as one in all the most prolific scorers the WNBA has ever seen, the one thing Ogunbowale hasn’t managed to capture during her illustrious profession has been a league title. As an athlete in her prime, a championship is something she will check off her bucket list in the very near future. Off the court, she reached a key milestone by announcing her engagement to Lala Ronay. For some, balancing home and basketball might be difficult, but for Ogunbowale, this latest relationship has been the perfect complement to her life.
“It really makes me happy,” she says of her decision. “My biggest goal has always been to have a family and kids, and now I’m a little closer to that. It definitely brings me a lot of peace and I feel like I’m headed in the right direction.”
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