Paris Court Tries Far-Right Activists Over Racist Banner Targeting Singer Aya Nakamura
Aya Nakamura (C) performing during the Paris 2024 Olympics. X/ @farenet
June 4, 2025 Hour: 12:46 pm
The group ‘The Natives’ promotes nationalist messages opposing the ‘Africanization’ of French culture.
On Wednesday, the Paris Criminal Court began the trial of citizens linked to the far-right group The Natives (Les Natifs) over hate messages directed at French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura.
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Ten men and 3 women, ages 20 to 31, are being tried for their role in displaying a banner targeting the artist after French authorities announced her participation in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games.
“It can’t be Aya! This is Paris, not the Bamako market!” read the banner, which prompted complaints from several anti-racism organizations and Nakamura herself.
Despite the incident, Nakamura went on with her performance on the Pont des Arts over the River Seine, accompanied by the music band of the Republican Guard. The performance was interpreted as a message from the Elysee Palace against racism.
The text reads: “I am also a parliamentary assistant to three National Rally legislators in the National Assembly,” said Capucine Colombo, a member of the Natives implicated in the display of the racist banner targeting Aya Nakamura before the Olympic Games. (Statement made while in police custody.)”
Founded in 2021, The Natives is composed of former members of the dissolved Generation Identitaire movement. This far-right group promotes nationalist messages opposing the so-called “Africanization” of French culture.
The Natives describe themselves as “The Far-Right’s Greenpeace,” aiming to conduct stylish and spectacular nonviolent actions to spread their message. Their activities include organizing protests, distributing flyers, and holding self-defense classes. They have also taken part in demonstrations against immigration and multiculturalism, often working with other far-right groups.
Despite their claims of nonviolence, some affiliated groups have been linked to racist incidents and have faced legal action. The group’s members are primarily young adults ages 20 to 25, including students and young professionals. Some are also active in political movements supporting figures like Eric Zemmour and Marine Le Pen.
The French far right embraces the “Great Replacement” theory, which alleges that native French populations are being replaced by non-European immigrants.
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: EFE – BFMTV
