"As of today, Tiken Jah Fakoly is declared persona non grata in Senegal." These are the words of Ousmane Ngom, the Senegalese Interior Minister. Invited to Dakar for the 7th international Hip-Hop Awards festival, from 12 to 15 December, the Ivorian singer has repeatedly denounced President Wade's regime, urging him to "leave power", the title of a song from his album "Coup de Gueule".
Abdoulaye Wade, 81, has been in power since 2000. Observers fear a "handover of power to his son, Karim. "Tiken Jah Fakoly raised the real question," Alioune Tine told AFP. "[He] put his foot in a fundamental political debate (...) It is as if we were sliding towards a monarchy, and as soon as it is mentioned, it creates problems."
On Saturday 15 December, the singer declared that he had "no regrets", and that he had "said what everyone says" in Senegal. Mr Ngom upped the ante: "I think people must keep a sense of proportion. You cannot come to a country and give a president orders." "We could have taken draconian measures. But we did not," he added, demanding an apology from Tiken Jah Fakoly.
Source: AFP