Instead of celebrating the one year anniversary of her number one album, The Pinkprint, Nicki Minaj has come under fire by human rights activist for an upcoming Angola performance.
According to reports, Minaj, 33, is set to headline Show Unitel Boas Festas, a Christmas festival this Saturday (December 19) in the African country ruled by Jose Eduardo dos Santos since 1979.
Santos has been accused of violating basic human rights of journalists, activists and anyone who spoke out against the government oppression and intimidation. In a letter to Minaj, Thor Halvorssen, the head of Human Rights Foundation asked Minaj to cancel her scheduled performance.
In the letter, which was also published to the organization’s website, Halvorssen noted an Angolan hip-hop artist Luaty Beirao, was arrested in June for attending a meeting about democracy and non-violence. His trial is underway.
“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?” asks Halvorssen in his letter.
Minaj’s representative did not respond to a request for comment.