Before performing with his alternative rock group, on June 14, in the arenas of Nîmes, Frah, the leader of the group Shaka Ponk, has just violently attacked on the social network Instagram the councilors of the Occitan city who authorize the shows bullfight. “The elected officials of Nîmes who allow this aberration to continue in the arenas of Nîmes are torturers.”
The argument burns between Shaka Ponk and the fans of bullfighting who are quite numerous in Occitan countries. Corentin Carpentier from Nîmes, from the Touche pas à mes Passions collective, launched a petition demanding “the cancellation of the concert” by Shaka Ponk. The comments of the musicians are “insulting and defamatory against our population, our elected officials and our local entrepreneurs,” he denounced to the weekly Réveil du Midi. I cannot accept that a group that insults us can benefit from the economic benefits generated by an event in our precious arenas. The latter are known worldwide for their role in bullfighting, a tradition which has contributed to the international influence of Nîmes.
Also read “It’s almost the end of the world”: Shaka Ponk’s eco-friendly plea at the Victoires de la Musique
Even if he assures that he does not directly blame the inhabitants of the city, “who are brilliant people”, Frah from Shaka Ponk presents himself as an irreducible detractor of bullfighting. “Yes, we come to play at the Nîmes arenas… music. And yes, we are still anti-bullfighting. Bullfighting is an abomination because it shows the torture and killing of an animal in public, for fun, for laughs. A concept that bullfighting pros defend in the name of “human freedom” to perpetuate an artistic and cultural tradition. And living together. A right that belongs to all French people.” But obviously a right that does not belong to French bulls. You should know that the law prohibits the torture of an animal.”
The town hall of Nîmes has promised that it will react on Friday April 29 during the presentation of the program for the next city festival. For her, it will be about marrying lovers of tradition and modernity. They are sometimes the same…
Also read: “Aymeric Caron popularized bullfighting despite himself”