“Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links.”
After what seemed like months of anticipation, Aya Nakamura left it all on the stage for the in Paris.
The global star went for the gold—literally—to kick off this year’s . While wearing a metallic textured minidress, matching strappy gladiator sandals, and her hair in a platinum blonde blowout, the singer performed her song “Pookie” alongside a crew of dancers and a live band courtesy of France’s Republican Guard.
Nakamura’s performance comes after over whether or not she would perform for the city’s opening ceremony. While Nakamura is France’s most-streamed musician (for context, her entire catalog has racked), some racist naysayers argued that her Mali roots should bar her from being a part of official Olympic celebrations for Paris—even while she performs completely in French and stands as one of the country’s most popular recording artists.
Needless to say, Nakamura gracing the stage alongside the Seine for today’s ceremony is a political move, with French officials showing their support for the star and recognizing that African artists, creatives, and everyday people are just as much a part of France’s cultural makeup. Fans were quick to praise her performance on social media, calling the moment “” and “incredible.”
Nakamura addressed the rumors and controversy in her song “Doggy,” released earlier this year, rapping in her lyrics, “I don’t have enemies, me / It’s them that don’t like me … A load of enemies / But I don’t even know them.”
You Might Also Like
This article originally appeared on www.aol.com: www.aol.com https://www.aol.com/aya-nakamura-proves-why-shes-185500513.html