Bien-Aimé Baraza has responded to criticism surrounding his appearance alongside French President Emmanuel Macron during the recently concluded Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.
The singer, popularly known as Bien, addressed the backlash after some social media users accused African creatives participating in summit events of enabling neo-colonial influence and becoming too closely associated with powerful foreign governments.
In a statement shared online, Bien defended his decision to attend the high-profile gathering and interact with global leaders, insisting that engagement does not mean surrendering one’s identity or principles.
“I can sit at a table with global leaders and still remain fully African, fully critical, and fully myself,” he wrote.
“Presence is not submission.”
The remarks quickly gained traction online as debate surrounding Macron’s Kenya visit continued to dominate conversations across Kenyan social media.
Macron visited Nairobi for the Africa Forward Summit held between May 11 and 12, 2026, where African and European leaders gathered to discuss issues including trade, innovation, climate cooperation and youth partnerships.
Beyond the official discussions, however, the French president’s public appearances and cultural interactions generated widespread online attention.
The French leader also attended private gatherings and networking events involving artists, entrepreneurs, creators and business leaders, including a dinner attended by Bien.
While some Kenyans praised the summit for bringing global attention to Kenyan culture and creativity, others questioned whether local celebrities and public figures were becoming too comfortable aligning themselves with political power associated with controversial histories in Africa.
France’s relationship with parts of Africa remains a deeply debated issue, especially in West Africa, where anti-French sentiment and criticism of perceived neo-colonial influence have intensified in recent years.
That broader political context contributed to the criticism directed toward artists and creatives seen interacting with Macron during the summit.
Still, despite the controversy, the Africa Forward Summit succeeded in generating significant public engagement around questions of culture, diplomacy and representation.
