Kenyan creative entrepreneur Chiki Kuruka has spoken out in defence of African artists facing criticism for participating in events linked to French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit to Kenya, arguing that creatives should not be condemned for entering influential global spaces.
The debate emerged following Macron’s highly publicized trip to Nairobi for the Africa Forward Summit, where the French president took part in several cultural activities that quickly went viral online.
While many Kenyans celebrated the interactions as moments of cultural exchange and international visibility, others criticized African creatives and celebrities who engaged with Macron during the visit.
Chiki Kuruka has now entered the conversation with a different perspective, insisting that African artists should not be attacked for accessing platforms where global conversations and influence are shaped.
“You cannot ask African artists to take Africa to the world, then criticize them for entering the rooms where the world is shaped,” she wrote in a statement shared online.
According to Chiki, the responsibilities of politicians and artists are fundamentally different.
“It is the responsibility of politicians to fight for fair policy — it is the responsibility of artists to carry our stories across borders,” she stated.
Her remarks quickly gained traction online, with many creatives and supporters agreeing that artists should not be expected to carry every political battle simply because they interact with world leaders or international institutions.
Chiki further argued that participation in global events or diplomatic spaces does not automatically diminish an artist’s African identity or commitment to the continent.
“Sitting at global tables does not make us less African,” she wrote.
“It is part of making sure Africa is seen, heard and impossible to ignore.”
Her statement introduced a more nuanced perspective into a debate that has increasingly become emotionally and politically charged.
France’s relationship with Africa remains a deeply sensitive issue, particularly in parts of West Africa where anti-French protests and criticism of perceived neo-colonial influence have intensified in recent years.
That political backdrop partly fueled discomfort among some Africans who felt the celebratory tone around Macron’s cultural appearances ignored ongoing tensions surrounding France’s role on the continent.
