Sauti Sol singer Bien-Aimé Baraza has defended himself after a wave of online criticism followed his attendance at a high-profile dinner and meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron during the latter’s state visit to Kenya on May 10, 2026.
On May 11, Macron hosted an exclusive dinner bringing together a select group of Kenyan creatives, entertainers and cultural figures.
Among those in attendance were Bien, his wife Chiki Kuruka, digital creator and chef Dennis Ombachi, and actress Sarah Hassan.
Photos of Bien mingling with President Macron and other global figures at State House during the Africa Forward Summit 2026 sparked a heated debate on social media, with some critics accusing the artist of getting too cosy with Western political power and others arguing that such engagements risk normalising neo-colonial influence on the continent.
A vocal minority even called for boycotts of his music.
Bien pushed back firmly, saying attending such events does not mean giving up his African identity or abandoning his values.
“I can sit at a table with global leaders and still remain fully African, fully critical, and fully myself. Presence is not submission,” he wrote in a post on Tuesday, May 12.
But not everyone was convinced.
Singer cum songwriter Nviiri Sande, popularly known as Nviiri TheStoryteller, was among the most vocal critics, warning in a series of widely shared posts that African artists risk being used as decorative props by governments with complicated histories on the continent.
“Artists are not state ornaments. We are not PR machinery. We are not puppets,” Nviiri wrote, arguing that art should serve as “memory, resistance, and conscience,” not as a backdrop for political optics.
He also rejected any attempt to frame France as aligned with Pan-African values, saying the movement was born out of resistance to colonialism, not association with those who benefited from it.
“And no, France does not get to suddenly call itself Pan-African,” he wrote.
His remarks pointed to a wider divide within the creative industry between artists who see global summits as an opportunity for visibility and influence, and those who view them as a more polished version of neo-colonial public relations.
The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of Macron’s official state visit to Kenya for the Africa Forward Summit, a major gathering co-hosted with President William Ruto that brought together over 30 heads of state, business leaders, and young innovators to discuss Africa’s future in areas including innovation, energy, culture, and global cooperation.
Macron used the visit to push a new narrative around France’s relationship with Africa, emphasising equal partnerships and increased investment.
