Hip-hop star Nicki Minaj to perform in Saudi Arabia

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Success has Malaysian rapper Bunga dreaming of music

DUBAI, UAE, July 4, (AP): Saudi Arabia said Wednesday that hip-hop star Nicki Minaj will perform in the ultraconservative kingdom as it sheds decades of restrictions on entertainment.

The female rapper is known for her outlandish, provocative style and hits like “Anaconda”, where she raps about her “big fat” backside. Her lyrics are often laced with profanities and her skin-bearing music videos often include twerking. Christian groups criticized her 2012 Grammy Awards performance, which included dancing priests and an exorcism.

Saudi organizers announced she would be the headline act at the Jeddah World Fest on July 18. The concert, which in line with Saudi laws is alcohol and drug-free, is open to people 16 and older and will take place at the King Abdullah Sports Stadium in the Red Sea city.

Reactions on social media ranged from shock and joy to criticism and disappointment. In a profanity-laced video posted on Twitter and viewed more than 37,000 times, a Saudi woman wearing a loose headscarf accuses the Saudi government of hypocrisy for inviting Minaj to perform but requiring women who attend the concert to wear the modest full-length robe known as the abaya. Most Saudi women also veil their hair and faces.

“She’s going to go and shake her … and all her songs are indecent and about sex and shaking … and then you tell me to wear the abaya,” the Saudi woman says. “What the hell?”

Saudi organizers said the concert will be broadcast globally and covered by MTV. Other performers include British artist Liam Payne and American DJ Steve Aoki. The Kingdom is also promising quick electronic visas for international visitors who want to attend.

Over the past several months, the Kingdom has seen performances by Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, the Black Eyed Peas, rapper Sean Paul, and DJs David Guetta and Tiesto. That’s despite the widespread international backlash since October over the killing of Saudi critic and writer Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents close to the crown prince in the Kingdom’s consulate in Turkey.

Such concerts are a stark change from when Saudi morality police would raid establishments that played loud music.

Gender segregation between single men and women is still enforced in many restaurants, coffee shops, public schools and universities, but other rules have loosened with women now allowed to drive and attend events in sports stadiums.

One of the few Malaysian female rappers, Bunga says she at first didn’t consider a career in music.

“My initial dream was to be a politician or a lawyer,” the 19-year old rapper told The Associated Press before her first performance in Singapore for the Malay arts festival “Pesta Raya” last weekend.

Her success has her changing her tune.

Bunga, whose real name is Noor Ayu Fatini Mohd Bakhari, is one of the only known rappers who wears a hijab and baju kurung, a traditional Malay dress, at her performances. Selfies on her Instagram account show her wearing various shades of hijab, but she didn’t start that way.

From Perak, the fourth-largest state in Malaysia, she became popular after a video of her performing in baju kurung in a local rap competition went viral in November. “When I reached the venue, I was wearing regular clothes,” Bunga said. But even though she was the only female at the event, she did not stand out. “At the very last minute, I bought myself a baju kurung at the venue itself.”

Her popularity soared earlier this year when she was invited to rap at a cypher show “16 Baris” that takes place in a barbershop. The show features up-and-coming talents from around Southeast Asia.

Bunga raps about her own personal life, her experiences of being bullied, facing love, and working at a gadget shop. She also gives advice to girls through her rap. She steers clear of obscenity and racism. “(Being a female rapper) doesn’t mean I have to act like boys or talk about gangsters,” Bunga said.

But rapping in traditional garments comes with its own challenges. “We can’t jump around so much wearing baju kurung,” said Bunga. Another challenge is facing criticism. Bunga said she has been criticized for “bringing down the image of women” by rapping in a hijab.

Bunga said she is not deterred and she is “living proof” that women can make it in a male-dominated rap. “I’ve realized that there are more hijabis who want to rap. I think that’s a good thing because you shouldn’t worry about what others say.”

Now based in Kuala Lumpur, Bunga is dreaming big. “I want to make a lot of songs. I want to go on tours. I want to release albums. I want to go worldwide.”

This news has been read 7566 times!