French mayor tries to end black feminist festival

The Nyansapo Festival is an event held in Northern Paris from the 28 to the 30 of July. The festival is meant to celebrate black culture around the world, as well as provide a safe space for people of color to debate pressing issues outside of the political sphere. There is only one issue here; no white people are allowed. 

Courtesy of Nyansapo Festival

This has caused an uproar amongst the French population, especially those belonging to Nationalist and Alt-Right groups in the nation. The criticism is, as always, that the festival is practicing reverse racism and feeding into the war on white people. These responses are expected, no matter how awful, but to have Parisian Mayor Anne Hidalgo condemn the festival for being racist was an uncalled for step. Then to have Hidalgo step back and change her mind on the matter, saying that a compromise was made with Nyansapo.

Courtesy of Mwasi

Mayor Hidalgo tweeted that she "firmly condemn the organisation in Paris of of this event 'forbidden to white people'". After this tweet Hidalgo then stated that she would "ban the festival" and that she alerted the police of the festival. The founders of Nyansapo Festival have come out saying that 80% of their events are exclusively meant for black women, then there are others meant for black men and women, colored people in general, and the last fourth accepts anyone who wants to attend. The festival is meant to bring pride to black culture as well as maintain a safe space for those who attend, which is necessary in this current political climate. 

With that explanation and a load of criticism from the internet, Mayor Hidalgo changed her stance saying that only some of the spaces will be exclusively run and will be outside of the City of Paris control. Those events that are public will be under the City of Paris, yet this was already known and planned for the event. Hopefully the Festival will be able to continue without a hitch, but many who run the programs are left feeling excluded and unwelcome by Paris. 

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