French-Malian singer-songwriter Nakamura is the most listened-to French-speaking singer in the world and performed at the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony defying criticism from far-right activists.

Far-right politicians and conservatives had accused the 29-year-old singer, best known for her hit 'Djadja', of "vulgarity" and disrespecting the French language in her lyrics.

The performer has been the target of right-wing extremist attacks on social media and by reactionary groups. The collective Les Natifs  (the natives) immediately made their displeasure with Nakamura's choice known and published a photo holding a banner, on the banks of the Seine, encouraging the artist to desist because "this is Paris, not the market of Bamako (the capital of Mali, where the singer was born 29 years ago)".

Three-time Elysee candidate Marine Le Pen criticised her appearance and her "vulgarity" rebuking Nakamura for using language "that is not French."

The president of the leftist National Rally (RN) party, MEP and frustrated prime ministerial candidate Jordan Bardella pointed to a poll showing that 73% of French people disapproved of Nakamura representing France. 

Bardella considered it problematic that someone convicted of spousal violence should sing at such a symbolic event. "A more consensual artist should have been chosen," he said.