Sri Lanka bans American rapper Akon for shaming Buddhism

Jeremy Page, South Asia Correspondent & , : {}

Sri Lanka has refused to issue a visa to Akon, the Senegalese-American singer and rapper who is due to perform there next month, after Buddhist activists took offence at one of his music videos.

They said that the video for Akons song Sexy Bitch, which features bikini-clad women dancing in front of a statue of the Buddha in Ibiza, had offended members of the Sinhalese ethnic majority, which is mainly Buddhist.

On Monday, hundreds of protesters stormed the head offices of the Maharaja Broadcasting and Television Network, the concerts media sponsor, injuring four employees, smashing windows and damaging parked cars.

Sri Lankan officials said that Akon and his entourage had yet to apply for visas but the Government had already decided not to allow him into the country for the concert on April 24, which is sold out.

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Anusha Palpita, the director-general of the Information Department, said that the main allegation against Akon was that he was defaming Buddhism in his video.

A statement on Sri Lankas official government news portal added: Apart from this particular controversial video clip, some of Akons lyrics are not suitable for public articulation. Sri Lankan activists opposed to the concert have formed a We hate Akon group on the social networking site Facebook, which had 11,700 members yesterday.

Akons international booking agents, American Talent Agency, said that they had postponed the show until the safety of performers and fans could be guaranteed, but added that they were working to organise a new date.

I was not aware that the statue was even on the set of the video until now. I would never set out to offend or desecrate anyones religion or religious beliefs, Akon said in a statement. I myself am a spiritual man, so I can understand why they are offended, but violence is never the answer and I am disheartened.

The incident illustrates the influence on the Government of hardline Sinhalese nationalists who have often used violence against those whom they consider to be offending Buddhism.

The decision to bar Akon also raises concerns about the independence of the media in Sri Lanka. Maharaja is one of the few large media organisations backing the Opposition before parliamentary elections on April 8.