The Hollywood Reporter obtained a copy of Halvorssen’s letter to Minaj, which read in part: “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, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
Advertisement
On December 19, Nicki Minaj is scheduled to perform at a holiday show in Angola for the Unitel company, according to a post on her Facebook page.
And since Angola’s President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has been accused of corruption in the past, fans have rallied together and protested against the singer’s decision to accept the country’s invitation to play. Penned by Thor Halvorssen, president of the Human Rights Foundation, and addressed directly to Minaj, the letter discusses the long-standing crisis in Angola in what he describes as a “brutal three-decade authoritarian rule” by the dos Santos family. In 2013, the Human Rights Foundation gave Mariah Carey similar scrutiny for her Angolan concert, for which she received $1 million, the Guardian reported. The rapper and 16 others who attended the meeting are now in trial for allegedly preparing acts of rebellion.
Minaj’s representative did not respond to a request for comment.
Advertisement
“HRF hopes Nicki Minaj will cancel her trip and instead issue a statement of solidarity with those jailed this month for opposing the dictatorship including rapper and hip-hop artist Luaty Beirão”, said Mr Halvorssen. “If you move forward with this performance for the dictator and his family, you will be in league with the people stealing educational resources and opportunity from young Angolans”.
